ATLANTA — Every day is an opportunity to change a life.
Gary Davis Sr. is one of many community-based mentors rising above to respond to the growing needs of Atlanta’s Black boys and young men.
“I saw a need that our young men were crying out with their mouths shut, and I decided to put an after-school program in place for young men only,” he said.
Davis, the Director of Next Level Boys Academy and a father of three young men, sees the non-profit program as a pipeline to better success. Through mentorship, the next generation in the academy is shown the difference between chasing a bag and ending up in one.
“By the time they get to us, they've been so traumatized and victimized, socialized, and all of these things, that is they're so far, and they're so deep in it, there's only so much we could do. So, in order to come to us, first, you're gonna have to want it.” Davis said.
‘They like to express themselves’
The boys and young men in Next Level Boys Academy come from all backgrounds and home situations. The program often acts as a haven when the youth have nothing to lean on.
“There are not many places for young men to express how they feel outside of the music studio. And so I knew that from being a father of three young men that they like to be able to express themselves and not in a judgmental space,” Davis told 11Alive.
Davis’s own life experiences allow him to help shepherd Next Level boys away from a life blurred and uncertain to a place where light can be found at the end of a tunnel.
“They have to see it; they have to feel it in order to believe that it could really happen,” he said. What your mom is trying to put in place for you is going to prevent you from here or the cemetery.”
‘You have value, and you have purpose’
Davis' approach to reaching Next Level youth balances caring and deeply realistic while implementing prevention and intervention tactics. To him, success for Black Boys and teens happens when they feel visible in a world that may choose to overshadow them.
“You have value, and you have. purpose. And your destiny is right in front of you. And you don't have to go out like that.” he said.
How to get involved with Next Level
Gary Davis holds his weekend worships for Atlanta Youth weekly. Next Level Boys Academy is part of the City of Atlanta’s "Year of the Youth" initiative - a yearlong effort addressing the needs of Atlanta Youth.
More information about the program here.