Adding to his resume as a notable rapper and actor, Joey Bada$$ is an ardent supporter of Black men. On Tuesday, the Brooklyn-bred artist announced the creation of his new mentorship program.
“I’m excited to announce that I’ve been silently working on a free mentorship program for men of color in the US & Puerto Rico called @impactmentorship, Bada$$ wrote on Instagram. “Inspired by my friend @sophchangnyc & @unlockherpotential. I recruited an impressive network of incredible mentors in the areas of ART, CULINARY, FASHION, FILM/TV, MEDIA, MUSIC, SPORTS.”
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The core objective of the mentorship program is “to commit to a man of color’s professional development and growth by sharing expertise, experience, wisdom, insights, guidance, and constructive criticism,” according to its website.
Impact Mentorship will offer mentees one hour a month to connect with experts in various industries for a year.
According to the Brookings Institute, “Black men have the highest unemployment rates of any race/gender group, and the lowest labor force participation and employment rates among men.” Impact Mentorship seeks to dismantle this narrative.
To expand access and bolster professional opportunities for young professionals, Impact Mentorship will strive to “provide a path” to freedom for its members: “We believe wholeheartedly that mentorship can help provide a path to professional and financial independence. In addition to career guidance, one of the most critical gifts the mentees receive is confidence.”
Impact Mentorship will accept applications from Oct. 15-29.
In his post announcing the program, Bada$$ mentioned, “Due to the high profile of our mentors we anticipate significant demand for the program. To increase your chances of matching with your chosen mentor, we strongly encourage all applicants to carefully research the program and mentors, prepare your application in advance and submit early. Good luck!”
