It seems popular today to find a scapegoat for everything wrong with this country. The latest scapegoat is actually the generation that is set to inherit the nation for all its pros and woes – millennials. It is a label for “young people I find disagreeable.” Despite enduring most of the blame for this generation’s shortcomings, many millennials are more conscious of the issues that surround them, and are often passionate about confronting those issues.
However, often times, millennials lack the follow through needed to make positive change. According to Forbes, “…While most millennial investors (78 percent) seriously consider a company’s impact on the earth and its people and shop accordingly, only 24 percent have actually taken actions to invest their money where their morals are.” Despite the apparent lack of commitment, the desire for positive change seems to be growing.
A 2017 Pew Research Center study reveals, “More than one-in-three American labor force participants (35 percent) are millennials, making them the largest generation in the U.S. labor force.” With the potential to completely drive the labor force within a few years, young adults today have the opportunity to create a positive cultural shift that emphasizes economic equality, health, education and civil rights. Several Roanoke area organizations helmed by young adults seeking change are doing their part in starting that cultural shift. These organizations all highlight the theme of empowerment of community and the individual.
Name: Ryan Bell
Organization: Black Father Family
Position: Founder/Chief Dad Officer
Age: 30
The Black Father Family initiative founded by Ryan Bell seeks to dispel the misconceptions and negative narratives that many associate with associate with black men and fatherhood.
“I am constantly reminded of the negative stereotypes surrounding black fathers. I launched Black Father Family to be a vehicle that would allow the broader public to experience the many men who cherish and respect the responsibility of being a father,” Bell said. Bell hopes to highlight stories of fatherlessness in his community in order to reach a point of reconciliation that would see formerly absent fathers become present in their children’s lives.
Black Father Family hosts a variety of projects to further its goal. Family literacy nights seek to involve parents, particularly men, in the education of the community’s youth. “Black and Bold” is a series of talks planned to confront the issues and perceptions of the black man in several aspects of society. Bell and Black Father Family recently began the “1 Day, 100 Men Challenge”, where a host of male volunteers visit schools to welcome the arrival of the students.
Black Father Family does not employ any workers; their support comes from the community.
“Get involved! We need all hands on deck, especially when it comes to our Black men. Pick a school and volunteer. Pick a community organization and volunteer. Take a young person under your wing. Or look to get involved with our efforts around mentoring,” Bell said.
Name: Xavier Duckett
Organization: Humble Hustle
Position: Founder/CEO
Age: 27
With a name that suggests a street level, hands-on approach, Humble Hustle is the creation of Xavier Duckett. Its goal is to empower and encourage the community and its youth. Duckett said Humble Hustle’s mission is to foster the lifestyle of giving that has been instilled in him. “Humble hustle is literally something that everybody has in them or does on a daily basis. The Humble Hustle Company allows me to be creative in my ways of helping the community and advocating for youth,” Duckett said.
A few programs that Humble Hustle uses to empower local youth include Humble Hikes, which exposes inner city kids to the nature around them and PRETTY Humble Girls Empowerment Program, which teaches and encourages young girls in financial literacy and community service. Humble Hustle also raises money to award scholarships to students. “Our vision is to provide opportunities, create visions, be an aide to children’s dreams and give back to communities across the world,” Duckett said.
Duckett’s own mentors helped shape his vision for what Humble Hustle would become. “My mother, grandfather and grandmother are all major influences to why my passion is what it is.”
Name: Natasha Saunders, Robyn Mitchell, and Nour Ibrahim
Organization: Trifecta Inc.
Position: Co-Founders / CEO, CIO, CFO
Age: 32, 31, 34
While many Roanoke area organizations seek to assist communities through youth education, mentorship and food supply, Trifecta primarily emphasizes leadership and economic empowerment. Natasha Saunders serves as chief executive officer and co-founder of Trifecta, along with Nour Ibrahim, who serves as the chief financial officer and Robyn Mitchell who acts as chief information officer.
“Trifecta has a goal to bring back the vitality that was once present through various initiatives – empowering and equipping the community with necessary tools to not only survive, but thrive. This is accomplished through micro-seminars (professional development), youth outreach and empowerment, offering support to other businesses and curated events,” Saunders said.
According to Saunders, Trifecta pursues its mission with three vital factors in mind. “Guard It” is an effort to maintain and cultivate the creative endeavors of underrepresented people and communities. “Nurture It” is a way for Trifecta to provide events and resources for local youth to engage in self-improvement. Lastly, “Reveal It” helps to cultivate the talents within individuals in order to give back to the community.
Saunders hopes to spread the mission of Trifecta, eventually to a national level. Trifecta has and is building out several programs that aim to increase the qualities of job seekers and employment opportunities.
“We aim to connect employers with the best and the brightest that Southwest, Central, Northern, and Tidewater Virginia have to offer,” Saunders said.
Name: Tallulah Costa and Chloe Hunt
Organization: S.T.A.A.R.
Position: Co-Founders
Ages: 15
Social Teen Activism Alliance of Roanoke (S.T.A.A.R.) is the creation of teen activists Tallulah Costa and Chloe Hunt in an effort to empower their peers to join in the cultural discourse for positive, social change. According to Costa, S.T.A.A.R.’s mission is built from four pillars – youth empowerment, teen involvement, political action and creating social justice.
“Even if teens cannot vote, we should still be paying attention to all the elections and politics that surround us, as our representatives shape our future,” said Costa. She mentioned that one of her personal inspirations is congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Additionally, Black Lives Matter and March for Our Lives are just a few organizations that formed a foundation for Costa’s passion for change.
“I think both Chloe and I have been trying to emanate a similar kind of energy and passion into S.T.A.A.R.,” Costa said. However, the greatest inspiration for Costa and the person she is seeking to become is the woman who raised her. “Overall, I of course look up to my mom who has educated me and supported me throughout all the years! I would not be the young, passionate young woman I am today if it weren’t for her tireless support and love.”
Name: John Lewis
Organization: Apple Ridge Farms
Position: Executive Director
Age: 34
Despite having a father from Washington and a mother from New York, John Lewis is a self-proclaimed “mountain man.” Lewis took up the mantle of Executive Director of Apple Ridge Farm from his father, Founder Peter Lewis.
Apple Ridge began when the elder Lewis purchased a 96-acre plot of land in 1976, and since then it has been a “safe place for educational activities” that seek to empower underserved communities, said John Lewis.
“The mission is to transform the lives of youth and their families from underserved communities through unparalleled educational, cultural and outdoor experiences,” said Lewis.
Kids who get to experience Apple Ridge learn qualities such as conflict resolution, social emotional health, leadership and self-management, while understanding their relationship to the world. Lewis said the outdoors have the potential to create more resilient youth who are open to more ideas.
“They take those skills that they learned at Apple Ridge back to their communities so that they can understand their relationship with their peers, their school, their communities and do more to learn, grow and play successfully,” said Lewis.
Youth who participate in Apple Ridge’s programs also have access to their A+STEM curriculum. In the program, students are exposed to science, technology, engineering, math, agriculture, astronomy and the arts. An initiative Lewis is putting more emphasis on currently is to “connect folks to their food.” This includes teaching youth about environmental stewardship, which in turn encourages them to be good stewards of their home and neighborhood.
“Our children deserve to aspire to something bigger than themselves,” Lewis said. Like many educational and charitable organizations, Apple Ridge relies on the people in the community just as much as they rely on it.
“One of the biggest things, which I think is so important is that people from the community recognize that we only exist with the community’s support. Many hands make light work. We can leverage the resources in the community by connecting what you have that Apple Ridge may not,” said Lewis.
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