Words by Maleek Davis // Design by Tanner Groehler
New Lens Urban Mentoring Program is a mentoring program that targets young African American men in St. Paul. The program’s mission is to improve the quality of life for black males by providing culturally-congruent, multi-generational mentoring to address mental, physical, and social development.
My experience with the program the past two years has done just that.
I have had many wonderful experiences with the program. My first one came when I was asked to speak at an event regarding New Lens and my experience with the program. This was a huge event, and was attended by Roy Austin Jr., deputy assistant to President Obama and director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs, Justice, and Opportunity, as well as many State of Minnesota leaders. It was a great experience for me and my family.
Shortly after that, New Lens and some mentors and mentees were invited to the White House. I never imagined that I would ever go to the White House. I was also asked to speak at Saint Paul Public Schools Annual Fundraiser in 2014. I have never spoken in front of that many people and that was an awesome experience as well.
Through New Lens I have learned to dream bigger, I have had the support of not only my mentor but also Program Director Shay Glorious Martin and the director of New Lens, Gayle Smaller. They often reach out to me and talk to me about how things are going. I couldn’t ask for a better team of successful men. My mentor has become someone who I can really depend on to teach me life lessons and keep me on track.
New Lens Urban Mentoring is so unique that I believe you cannot compare the organization to other programs. They bring new experiences to your life and teach lifelong skills and always try to better you as a person. For instance my mentor, Jamil Lott, gave me the opportunity to make some cash and taught me how to paint a deck. I made money and he taught me skills that I will need to know as a young homeowner.
I believe New Lens is a great program to be in as a young black male. I believe this program is headed in the right direction for young black males with all of the opportunities and new experiences that New Lens brings to their mentees. No other mentor group is doing what New Lens does. No one else is checking up on us, making sure we’re good, or even taking us somewhere in the city we’ve never been.
With New Lens I don’t look at the big things the program does like trips—I look at the little things like spending time with everybody, or getting support from your mentor, or even going out to eat. I am honored to say I am a New Lens mentee.
