With his latest endeavor, actor and rapper Joey Bada$$—formerly Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott—is contributing back to the culture.
He announced the initiative on social media, writing, “I’m excited to announce that I’ve been silently working on a free mentorship program for men of color in the US [and] Puerto Rico called @impactmentorship.”
“I gathered a remarkable group of amazing mentors in the fields of art, cooking, fashion, media, music, film/TV, and sports.”
The rapper was motivated to participate in Unlock Her Potential, a mentoring initiative that assists women of color, via his friend Sophia Chang.
He made the decision to serve as the initiative’s mentor in addition to serving as ImpactMENtorship’s creator.
He said in a statement to Afrotech, “I knew I wanted to create something similar for men of color who could benefit from the knowledge and experience of industry experts when I saw the impact we had on [the Unlock Her Potential] mentees.”
“Years ago, I gave lectures at Harvard and NYU, and I was struck by the students’ zeal and inquiry. ImpactMENtorship is pleased to provide one-on-one mentoring to eligible individuals, irrespective of their educational background.
“Black men have the lowest labor force participation and employment rates among men, and the highest unemployment rates of any race/gender group,” according to a Brookings Institution report.
By offering professional assistance and fostering the confidence necessary to succeed in any sector, ImpactMENtorship aims to close this gap. sector pioneers like NBA player Jaylen Brown and fashion designer Tremaine Emory serve as mentors in this endeavor. Adhering to the principles of Unlock Her Potential,
A year of one-hour, one-on-one sessions with their mentors will be provided to approved mentees under the theme “Imagine what 12 hours could do.”
Joey Bada$$ said on Instagram, “We anticipate significant demand for the program due to the high profile of our mentors.”
“We strongly encourage all applicants to carefully research the program and mentors, prepare your application in advance, and submit early to increase your chances of matching with your chosen mentor.”
The application period begins on October 15 at 12 p.m. ET and ends on October 29 at 12 p.m. ET. On the program’s website, it states that candidates must identify as males of color, which includes “cis, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender-expansive, and gender-fluid people,” and that they must be at least 18 years old.
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