The Empowering Men's Network (E'Men's Network) was created in January 2021 by Dr. JoAnn Ajayi-Scott, Founder and Chief Philanthropic Officer of Essence of a Lady, Incorporated during National Mentoring Month. This Network was born to become the philanthropic arm of Young Men Empowered (Y-ME?) Mentoring program for school-aged boys 6-19 years old.
The concept to model the signature brand, E'Ladies Network, a women's program of Essence of a Lady and the philanthropic arm of Young Essence Ladies...Learning (YELL!), began in January 2016. This program was motivated by her grandson, Brent Figgs, Jr. He watched YELL! Mentoring have programs, field trips and special events all his life because YELL! began the year he was born, 2003.
One day he came to her and asked, "G'momma, why you don't have a mentoring program for boys! She responded, "I will create one for you. Well, that process began in 2016, however she decided to conduct her research for her dissertation on "The Impact of Faith-Based Mentoring on Boys and Young Men of Color" so Y-ME? was put on hold. She received her PhD in Organization Leadership in 2017.
One of the speakers for YELL! National Mentoring Month Workshop, Mr. Prentyce Robinson spoke on how mentoring had impacted his life and stated he would love to become a mentor. Prior to that, Mr. Gary Thomas, Martin Luther King Foundation of Jacksonville, Florida expressed the desire to become a mentor also. Thus, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Thomas are our Charter members of the Essence Men Network, hereafter called E'Men's Network!! We welcome men in the E'Men Network and young men in our Y-ME? Mentoring program. Brent Figgs Jr (17) and Prentyce Robinson are the first Male Mentor/Mentee Match! Please complete the registration below to become a philanthropist to boys and young men up to 19 years old as an Empowering Man!! Also, please indicate how you would like to participate as a philanthropist: $50-Volunteer-donate time by chaperoning, working at our events, etc $99-College Peer Mentor-mentor youth in middle or high school for one year. Member of MSIA program. $100-Donor-make donations to support the mission or sponsor a Y-ME?Boy $250-E'Man- Annual Partnership-Participate in events and market and promote biz at one event $500-E'Sponsor - any business, nonprofit, professional or community leader sponsor one event or a youth for the year. $1000-aMazing Male-Strategic Partner- businesses or nonprofit organizations provide support-photography, media, products/services to youth, venue for events, or sponsor whole events through us or own organization or program activities and quarterly field trips.