Tyriek Mack first got involved with when he was in high school.
The D.C.-based agency empowers kids ages 3 to 25 in Wards 7 and 8, offering things like summer camp programs for kids and year-round after school programs. Mack got involved with the organization’s Saturday Academy, an hourslong initiative on the campus of Georgetown University that teaches high schoolers life skills.
As he got more involved with the group, Mack met William 鈥淓lder Bill鈥� Pitts, a family engagement consultant who has also served as a youth mentor. Now a law student at the University of Virginia, Mack credits Pitts鈥� mentorship for his outlook on success and giving back.
鈥淗e really instilled in me lessons of who I am,鈥� Mack said. 鈥淟ike, what does it really mean to be a young Black man in America, despite what the stereotypes on TV or social media might put in front of you?鈥�
Mack and Pitts shared the value of their relationship during a session on mentorship and supporting youth mental health on Thursday night. The session was part of the 13th annual National Mentoring Summit.
鈥淥ne of the detriments for me, as for Black boys growing up in America, is this notion that you are not quite human,鈥� Pitts told the room of dozens of people.
Some of the mentors who attended the gathering detailed their efforts to support kids鈥� mental health, and the young adults reflected on the value of having mentors.
Even in his 30s, Pitts said he needed a mentor, adding that he got the nickname 鈥淓lder Bill鈥� because 鈥渋n our community, young Black boys don’t see an elder that embraces the eldership, and I embrace it.鈥�
After graduating from college, Mack returned to the organization to work with 鈥淓lder Bill.鈥� And from afar, he watched as his mentor managed conflict among some of the kids.
鈥淭he reality is I鈥檓 able to manage conflicts largely because of how I鈥檝e seen ‘Elder Bill’ manage conflicts,鈥� Mack said.
But 鈥淓lder Bill鈥� credits the kids鈥� efforts in putting in the work to accomplish their goals, noting he only interferes when he observes the work isn鈥檛 getting done.
鈥淲hen I hear about a 9-year-old child killed, or 12, or 25, or 30 or 40-year-old person killed, that causes me a lot of pain,鈥� Pitts said. 鈥淏ut I also know when I see (Mack) or other little brothers, what they鈥檙e doing, I get a lot of joy.鈥�
