Photo Credit: Jacques S. Dupre
Name: Robert Malone
Profession: Nonprofit Executive
Age: 44
One Word That Describes You: Compassionate
Mentoring to Manhood (M2M) Executive Robert Malone is dedicated to the young men in his community. Founded in April of 2005 M2M targets young men ages 12-18 with a focus on developing an understanding of social responsibility and establishing a place as an effective leader in their immediate communities. Starting with a group academically, professionally and socially accomplished mentors, M2M has grown a successful program to develop male youths into “men of excellence”. M2M seeks to nurture and improve its community’s youth through social influences, academic support, spiritual development, camaraderie and scholarship. M2M consistently runs group activities and workshops designed to build positive life skills and achieve high levels of academic success; facilitating positive thinking and actions; creating compassionate, caring, and community minded young men by actively exposing them to diverse learning opportunities and community service environments.
Often times people have a passion beyond their profession, and this was the case with Malone. Seeing others suffer and be left out, Malone decided to do something about it. “I was in banking when I first got the bug for nonprofit and community-based work,” Malone tells BE Modern Man. “I worked with some friends of mine to launch a nonprofit to lift the performance and broaden the opportunities for young people – especially Black boys.”
Mentoring to Manhood is a tremendous community asset with a stellar reputation that is moving young men from passion, rage and anger to finding a way to make a real difference. “I’m overwhelmed by the changes we have the opportunity to help make in the lives of boys,” says Malone. A couple of years ago, Mentoring to Manhood was recognized as one of the best small nonprofits in the Washington DC region by the Catalogue for Philanthropy. “Each year, we’re moving more than 140 boys towards excellence in their academic pursuits and character.”
Through sincerity, passion, and commitment Malone is setting the standard for philanthropic efforts in his community. “Add value wherever you are and find ways to make others successful,” Malone tells BE Modern Man. “People cannot ignore value add.”
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Taught early on that adding value comes by pointing people to God, Malone understands that nothing worthwhile comes or lasts without him. “I’m in awe of what I’m doing not because of conceit or pride, but because I’m amazed at how God works things out and brings about change and correction through my availability to Him.”
Our country is ripe with so much untapped potential, and Malone is leading by example to tap into the richness that our youth have to offer. “One of the most amazing things you can witness is when the mind and spirit of a person takes flight,” says Malone. In the words of one of his mentees, “I’m doing so much better because I’m focused.” M2M focuses on the positive, the possibilities and promise that doing things the right way and doing your best will open up the world. “This is the focus that unlocks the greatness of our people and then the greatness of our nation.”
With the understanding that every man’s journey is a promise, Malone believes that a BE Modern Man represents the idea that life is what you make of it. “For me, life has a divine design. It takes courage to live it out.”
The BE Modern Man team commends Robert Malone for the presence to step out of his profession and into his passion. As a result he is helping hundreds of young men realize their potential through M2M. It is this level of service that has a domino effect on the generations to come.
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The post BE Modern Man: Meet Nonprofit Executive Robert Malone appeared first on Black Enterprise.