When I think about mentorship, it’s not just about advice or sharing my journey—it’s about presence. It’s about showing up for the next generation in ways that say: I see you. I believe in you. And your dreams matter.
For me, it was about creating the safe spaces I wish I’d had growing up…
I grew up in survival mode with challenges like poverty, instability, and anxiety. Sadly, there weren’t many places I could just breathe, let alone imagine a future for myself that looked any different from what I saw around me. But something magical happened when I discovered dance. Movement gave a shy, anxious little girl a voice when words failed me.
Dance didn’t just teach me rhythm or performance; it helped me survive. It helped me heal.
In my preteen years, it clicked for me: the arts aren’t just about creativity; they’re about possibility. Hard work and performance began to carve out a place for me—not just in an industry, but in a family of creatives who became some of my biggest supporters and lifelong friends. That changed everything.
Turning Movement Into A Mission
As I leaned deeper into the arts and began to merge them with entrepreneurship, I saw doors open—not just for me, but for underrepresented youth who had been historically overlooked.
I knew I had to pry those doors wide open because when we create space for young people to be seen and heard, we don’t just change their circumstances, we change the game.
Every young person— including justice-impacted youth and transitional-aged youth— deserves a space where they can feel safe, be themselves, and dream without fear of judgment.
For me, that space is built through mentorship, media, and the arts. But no matter the path, the mission remains the same: to inspire, uplift, and guide young people toward something bigger than their circumstances.
I’ve learned that mentorship isn’t about giving all the answers. It’s about helping young people ask the right questions and giving them the confidence to discover their own answers. It’s about showing them how to make empowered choices that help them navigate the world, honor their dreams, and uplift their families and communities.
When we teach creativity with responsibility, we give our youth real tools for life like problem-solving, leadership, collaboration, and emotional intelligence. These are the seeds that grow into the entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators of tomorrow.
A Place To Belong
For many of the young people I work with, stepping into a creative space is the first time they feel like they belong. It’s the first time failure feels like part of the process instead of a stop sign. It’s where they find community with people who see their brilliance, celebrate their wins, and lovingly hold them accountable. That’s powerful!
I’ve watched shy dancers step onto national stages. I’ve seen once-overlooked kids find their voice behind a camera or launch businesses built on their creativity. Some have gone on to perform with global superstars. Others have started their own ventures, reimagining what success looks like for them. Each story reminds me that this is what’s possible when someone chooses to believe in you and helps you believe in yourself.
A Mentor’s Journey
The beautiful truth is that mentorship doesn’t just change the mentee. It transforms the mentor, too. These young people have taught me just as much as I’ve taught them. They’ve challenged me to grow, reminded me to stay curious, and inspired me to keep pushing boundaries. They make me better as a leader and a human being.
I see the brilliance in them. I feel it. And it breaks my heart to know that so many are overlooked. So, I’ve made it my mission to amplify their light, provide the tools they need, and help them shatter any barriers standing in their way by founding the Studio T Arts & Entertainment, a space dedicated to empowering youth through arts, media, and entrepreneurship.
Mentorship is a long game. Sometimes you don’t get to see the full bloom. But if one more young person leaves our space feeling free enough to dream, and bold enough to chase that dream, then I know I’ve done my part.
Editor’s Note: This story has been edited and condensed for clarity.
By BrownStyle Magazine in Special Editions
72 pages, published 1/17/2025
