We recently connected with Derrick Collins and have shared our conversation below.
Derrick, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I get it from my parents. I saw them struggle when i was younger, and i don’t want that to be my life, nor my children’s. My mother was a school year for over 40 years, she won multiple teacher of the year awards working with youth ranging from elementary to high school. My father was also a mental health therapist and social worker who worked with at risk populations for over 40 years as well. I followed in both of their footsteps, obtaining my bachelors in education and my masters in clinical social work.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am the CEO and founder of a non for profit Mr and Ms Mentoring Inc. We provide mental health and mentoring services to at risk youth ages 9-18. We serve the lower income population, and in most cases single parent housing. We have serviced youth in the judicial system, the school system, at risk community, and even in residential settings. We have a facility which also provides different outlets to the youth such as boxing and weight light gym, a meditation room, a music studio, clothing store, and art room. This provides multiple ways to cope and destress from their day to day lives.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Stay consistent, that is what will make you stand out when others come and go. Being someone that people can rely and know will be there in the long run. Being a person of your word. If you say you are going to do something or be somewhere, do it. This is also a test to your character, and how being view you truthfully. Last one is being genuine. People that work in the system, know if you are doing it just as a job, or if you really care. It will show in the long run.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We are always looking to partner and collaborate. It takes a village to raise a family, and for us our family is pretty big. We are looking for people who are invested into the community, and want to give back to the youth of the future. This can be through sponsorship, funding, and mentorship. We currently partner with a lot of local business such as sky zone trampoline park, Halifax behavorial , Rue and Ziffra Td Bank, Vystar bank, and both local colleges Bethune Cookman University, and Daytona State College.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mrandmsmentoring.org
- Instagram: mr.andms.mentoring
- Facebook: mr and ms mentoring
- Linkedin: mr and ms mentoring
- Youtube: mr and ms mentoring
Image Credits
Kenneth Grant Productions
