THE YEAR IN WORDS
Message From Mario Jovan Shaw
Chief Impact Officer and Co-Founder of Profound Gentlemen
Chief Impact Officer and Co-Founder of Profound Gentlemen
The sacrifices were worth it. As we go into year five of PG, I’m more positive that the work we are doing is truly establishing a cradle to career pipeline for boys of color. The work our Gentlemen do in classrooms that impacts communities and the entire education system does not go unnoticed. They spend countless hours establishing culturally relevant lessons and creating innovative schools that are designed to meet the needs of all students. Our Gentlemen are working with local school boards to consider new curriculum that meet the needs students of color, specifically. They are also having bold conversations with state leaders on how we can collectively retain male educators of color. I’m fortunate to have the privilege of going around the country to see our Gentlemen do this work in action. In year four, it was nothing that I expected. It was more than what I expected. This is the first time that we have Gentlemen that started with us back in 2015 that have gone into their fourth year as educators. They show that our PG magic is work! Today, many of our Gentlemen have continued to serve in the classroom, start school and create non-profits that lend itself to ultimately establishing a pipeline for boys of color but I must correct myself with this statement.
Recently, Profound Gentlemen served as a community partner for the play, Pipeline, written by Dominique Morisseau. After seeing the play three times, I had a different perspective on the word pipeline. Now when I say the word, it has a negative ring or tone to it. The word pipeline is now associated with something that is narrow or forcing something to go down a drain. The word pipeline refers to something that once had a larger space but it is now being funneled down to a more specific area, something much small. I grappled with this idea for some time and came to the realization that unfortunately it’s true. Whether it is the cradle to prison or career pipeline, the issue is the pipeline itself. I see a system that’s forcing boys of color into a pipeline and creating a narrow perception of who they are and what they can become. This is happening on both sides. Where is the space for boys and men of color to freely be who they are and express that through their work? I believe that Profound Gentlemen is just in the beginning stages of creating that environment. We want to provide space that allows everyone to be their most authentic self. Success is to not tell young boys of color who they have to become but giving them the tools so they can discover it for themselves. That’s the role of an educator and specifically a Profound Gentleman. Our goal is to burst through these pipelines and take up as much space as needed for our boys and men of color to obtain success based on their very own definition.
Recently, Profound Gentlemen served as a community partner for the play, Pipeline, written by Dominique Morisseau. After seeing the play three times, I had a different perspective on the word pipeline. Now when I say the word, it has a negative ring or tone to it. The word pipeline is now associated with something that is narrow or forcing something to go down a drain. The word pipeline refers to something that once had a larger space but it is now being funneled down to a more specific area, something much small. I grappled with this idea for some time and came to the realization that unfortunately it’s true. Whether it is the cradle to prison or career pipeline, the issue is the pipeline itself. I see a system that’s forcing boys of color into a pipeline and creating a narrow perception of who they are and what they can become. This is happening on both sides. Where is the space for boys and men of color to freely be who they are and express that through their work? I believe that Profound Gentlemen is just in the beginning stages of creating that environment. We want to provide space that allows everyone to be their most authentic self. Success is to not tell young boys of color who they have to become but giving them the tools so they can discover it for themselves. That’s the role of an educator and specifically a Profound Gentleman. Our goal is to burst through these pipelines and take up as much space as needed for our boys and men of color to obtain success based on their very own definition.
Jason Terrell
Educator & Executive Director
Profound Gentlemen
Educator & Executive Director
Profound Gentlemen
Profound Gentlemen Community:
Lately, I’ve experienced seasons of change. I have recently stepped into a new role as a husband and a new father of a son, Julius, and Profound Gentlemen (PG) has shifted from a small team of “resourceful” believers to one that is building on a strong foundation. The foundation that PG exist is made up by our 350 Gentlemen, their 10K students, our countless community of philanthropic partners, volunteers, and donors, our national board of directors, and our staff and team.
As I reflect on my journey with Profound Gentlemen, I have battled and fought with doubt. Websters defines doubt as “a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction”. My cup is full with conviction behind the work we do to shift systems of boys and young men of color but I have felt uncertain about how to lead our organization into a space where our voice and impact resounds.
I was recently reading a quote of a quote from Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Joseph Asghedom:
"The most important thing, number one, is you gotta get rid of doubt. If you got doubt in what you're doing, it's not gonna work and the way to do that is you have a plan. 'Cause if you got a plan, it's not just like a pipe-dream, you have a step-by-step list of things to do to get to your goal”.
This past year, our team has been creating plans and casting visions to eliminate doubt. We have targeted plans to expand Profound Gentlemen into school districts in our priority regions of North Carolina, Chicago, and Atlanta. We have plans to impact over 400 educators with purposeful development and support to unlock and unmask their potential, and we have plans to grow our board of directors to a national body of committed experts.
This year, Profound Gentlemen is entering into our 5th year of operation and the theme that I am holding true is living with “No Doubt”. Living with “No Doubt” is not easy. It will take a community centered on love, purpose, and a shared vision to constantly affirm and ground us on our work.
As a member of our community, I am trusting that you will affirm and ground us. I trust that you will share our convictions that all students, especially boys and young men of color need to be constantly exposed to examples of possibility. Help us live with “No Doubt” that we can and will create a system to improve the educational outcomes for our students.
Lately, I’ve experienced seasons of change. I have recently stepped into a new role as a husband and a new father of a son, Julius, and Profound Gentlemen (PG) has shifted from a small team of “resourceful” believers to one that is building on a strong foundation. The foundation that PG exist is made up by our 350 Gentlemen, their 10K students, our countless community of philanthropic partners, volunteers, and donors, our national board of directors, and our staff and team.
As I reflect on my journey with Profound Gentlemen, I have battled and fought with doubt. Websters defines doubt as “a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction”. My cup is full with conviction behind the work we do to shift systems of boys and young men of color but I have felt uncertain about how to lead our organization into a space where our voice and impact resounds.
I was recently reading a quote of a quote from Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Joseph Asghedom:
"The most important thing, number one, is you gotta get rid of doubt. If you got doubt in what you're doing, it's not gonna work and the way to do that is you have a plan. 'Cause if you got a plan, it's not just like a pipe-dream, you have a step-by-step list of things to do to get to your goal”.
This past year, our team has been creating plans and casting visions to eliminate doubt. We have targeted plans to expand Profound Gentlemen into school districts in our priority regions of North Carolina, Chicago, and Atlanta. We have plans to impact over 400 educators with purposeful development and support to unlock and unmask their potential, and we have plans to grow our board of directors to a national body of committed experts.
This year, Profound Gentlemen is entering into our 5th year of operation and the theme that I am holding true is living with “No Doubt”. Living with “No Doubt” is not easy. It will take a community centered on love, purpose, and a shared vision to constantly affirm and ground us on our work.
As a member of our community, I am trusting that you will affirm and ground us. I trust that you will share our convictions that all students, especially boys and young men of color need to be constantly exposed to examples of possibility. Help us live with “No Doubt” that we can and will create a system to improve the educational outcomes for our students.
Jason Terrell
Educator & Executive Director
Profound Gentlemen
Educator & Executive Director
Profound Gentlemen
Javin Cotton
Assistant Principal
Chicago, IL
Osidan Cohort
(2 Years in Profound Gentlemen)
Assistant Principal
Chicago, IL
Osidan Cohort
(2 Years in Profound Gentlemen)
I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. There has always been this innate desire within me to help someone figure out how to do something. My friends would always require me to explain the instructions to games because “You say it in a way we get it.” Teaching others just made sense!! I enjoyed learning in school, yet nothing gave me more joy than helping my elbow partner understand what the teacher was saying!
I had the privilege of being taught by male educators of color, but didn’t realize the oddity of that till I went to college to become a teacher! Illinois State University, the school that taught me so much about me and what it takes to be a teacher wasn’t able to support me as an educator of color. Most of my undergraduate experience was sitting in classes as the only person of color, with the occasional “Sista.” Hearing my counterparts give experience to discussions regarding education left me unfulfilled and frustrated. I had no one to share my struggles with that understood. No one to explain the nuances of life as a student of color. I graduated with over 1000 newly certified educators. 70 of the 1000 were educators of color and there was only 5 males in the 70, of whom I never got to met.
My first teaching position was no different. I was the second male English teacher of color the school had ever had in its 150 year existence. The first year of teaching is already hectic, but not having someone that understood or at least could connect with my problems made it worse! I strained at this level for three years until I randomly saw a post on social media about Profound Gentlemen.
The post had pictures of male educators of color all in the same room with a description that articulated my feelings of loneliness in education and the lack of representation for Black and Brown students. I immediately went to the website and joined! That day was the marker for a shift in my life as an educator!
I am connected to more male educators of color now than I ever knew existed! I have a network of gentlemen I can call to gain support, information, and resources! I have a community that challenges me to be my best self at all times. I have a network that doesn’t just discuss opportunities for growth, but actually puts action to seeing me reach for those opportunities! I am a part of an organization that is impacting the lives of thousands of students across the nation one teacher, one event, one conversation at a time! My tenure as an educator will forever be changed because the deposits Profound Gentleman has made in me. I am truly grateful!
I had the privilege of being taught by male educators of color, but didn’t realize the oddity of that till I went to college to become a teacher! Illinois State University, the school that taught me so much about me and what it takes to be a teacher wasn’t able to support me as an educator of color. Most of my undergraduate experience was sitting in classes as the only person of color, with the occasional “Sista.” Hearing my counterparts give experience to discussions regarding education left me unfulfilled and frustrated. I had no one to share my struggles with that understood. No one to explain the nuances of life as a student of color. I graduated with over 1000 newly certified educators. 70 of the 1000 were educators of color and there was only 5 males in the 70, of whom I never got to met.
My first teaching position was no different. I was the second male English teacher of color the school had ever had in its 150 year existence. The first year of teaching is already hectic, but not having someone that understood or at least could connect with my problems made it worse! I strained at this level for three years until I randomly saw a post on social media about Profound Gentlemen.
The post had pictures of male educators of color all in the same room with a description that articulated my feelings of loneliness in education and the lack of representation for Black and Brown students. I immediately went to the website and joined! That day was the marker for a shift in my life as an educator!
I am connected to more male educators of color now than I ever knew existed! I have a network of gentlemen I can call to gain support, information, and resources! I have a community that challenges me to be my best self at all times. I have a network that doesn’t just discuss opportunities for growth, but actually puts action to seeing me reach for those opportunities! I am a part of an organization that is impacting the lives of thousands of students across the nation one teacher, one event, one conversation at a time! My tenure as an educator will forever be changed because the deposits Profound Gentleman has made in me. I am truly grateful!
