Throughout my life, I’ve been privileged enough to have mentors – those formative figures that gave me confidence and invested in my growth. I found these mentors in my parents, bosses, and undergraduate instructors. I’ve even found a mentor here at Sanford with Professor Dirk Philipsen. Professor Philipsen, like any good mentor, has expanded my worldview, pushing me to consider and reconsider the role of human well-being in social and economic policy.
Strong mentor relationships, I believe, are one of the greatest predictors of long-term success. These relationships are also an enormous privilege, largely determined by one’s familial, educational, and professional environments. Making these mentorship opportunities more accessible will improve our individual and collective well-being.
My Role at the Thomas Mentor Leadership Academy
For the past year, I served on the board of the Thomas Mentor Leadership Academy (TMLA) as part of the Sanford Board Leadership Initiative, which places MPP students as non-voting members on local nonprofit boards. TMLA’s mission is to provide structured and consistent mentorship opportunities to boys and young men from single-parent households in Durham. Twice a month, participants gather at TMLA’s headquarters, engaging in team-building activities, educational events, and community volunteering. In addition, mentors have weekly check-in calls with the young men, offering encouragement, advice, and care. Larry Thomas, TMLA’s founder and CEO, seeks to develop a nurturing environment where young men can grow, learn, and navigate life’s challenges.
Securing Funding and Expanding Opportunities
This work is deeply important. It’s also expensive. During my time as a board member, I focused on writing grants on behalf of TMLA. I had a lot to learn. I quickly found that successful grant writing depends on persuasive and authentic storytelling. As we applied for grants at the local and national level, we illustrated the necessity of TMLA’s work. Across the nation, boys and men are struggling, falling behind on nearly every measure of well-being including mental health, academic achievement, and interpersonal relationships. TMLA’s mentorship program seeks to address these worrying trends.
Throughout my fundraising campaign, I saw failure and success. Much to our excitement, TMLA was recently awarded a grant from the Durham Neighborhood Improvement Office. With the funds from this grant, our mentorship team designed and implemented a month-long STEM enrichment program for the boys. We purchased robotics kits, brought in guest speakers, and challenged our young men to explore a future in engineering. The project wasn’t just about giving them hands-on STEM experience. It was about showing them the possibilities that lay ahead in their personal and professional lives.
Lessons in Non-Profit Leadership
In addition to grant writing, I had the opportunity to observe non-profit leadership and administration up close. TMLA is governed by a small but mighty board. Each member of the leadership team brings a unique perspective to the organization, drawing on backgrounds in engineering, academia, community organizing, and the military. Board members lend their time and expertise to shape the future of TMLA. Their generosity and commitment to mentorship is truly inspiring.
Mentors change lives. They’ve certainly changed mine. In a recent conversation with my own mentor, Professor Philipsen, we were discussing the various dimensions of well-being. There are, of course, many considerations like good health, stable housing, and financial security. What stuck with me the most was one key ingredient: deep, caring relationships. At its core, TMLA’s mission is to show young men that they deserve to have meaningful, loving relationships with their families, friends, and communities. These connections, I believe, can anchor each of us through the uncertainties of life.
Young people in Durham – and across the country – need the support of organizations like TMLA. I sincerely hope that every child and young adult can form these rich, caring bonds. It was a privilege to contribute, albeit in a small way, to an organization seeking to realize this ideal.