When God gives you a vision you better listen to it. Kevon Gulley is living proof. He’s the founder of Save Black Boys, a non profit designed to raise awareness and consciousness about the state of OUR children. Back when he founded the organization in 2013, he had no idea of what God had in store for him or the hundreds of young men around the country who he now considers his sons.
“It’s a full service shop. We have a Save Black Boys homework center and we’re open 9am to 9pm, 7 days a week,” the tells TSR. “Our kids get in trouble at night so if they have somewhere to go, they have somewhere to be and they be there all night!”
He describes it as “gang prevention from a different stand point.” Weekly programs include Career & College Preparation, Negativity Detoxing, Group Counseling, Sex Education and Driver’s Ed. The statistics about violence in our communities isn’t his focus, instead he works everyday to rebuild the minds and self-esteem of our young men.
Born and raised in Compton, Kevon says the idea was an expression of God. After serving two long-term prison sentences, he decided to dedicate his life to serving kids like himself. “My parents were addicts and I grew up angry,” the ex-gangbanger shares. “I have one kid who came to me as an angry little boy. Now, he’s a 4.0 student athlete and he trusts me. It’s hard to get a black boy to trust you but he does.”
It’s place were everyone has family because Kevon won’t have it any other way. “All of them are my sons,” he says.
Today the non-profit has 6 different chapters, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Montgomery and Jackson, Alabama. Most recently, the group opened their latest location in Pasadena. “You can’t tell me God ain’t real!”
If you’d like to get involved or donate to Save Black Boys, get more info here.
TSR STAFF: Myeisha E. @myeisha.essex on IG
