Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremiah Pojah
Hi Jeremiah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The Man Up International Alliance was initially founded in the fall of 2022. We are a teen and young adult mentorship program with the intention of providing the necessary support needed to see yoing men become effective leaders, fathers, and husbands. I always had the desire to see young men have the opportunity to become the men that God intended them to be. I spent 15 years as a public school educator and coach which gave me a wealth of experience dealing with today’s youth, especially young men.
The Man Up International Alliance, Inc. has now been a 501c3 non-profit organization since the fall of 2023. We have nearly 2 dozen adult mentors and have provided mentorship services for 50+ young men during the 2023-24 school year.
God has given us favor in the community as we have received sponsorships and/or visits from Truist Bank, Chick-fil-A, the Mayor of Stockbridge, the Henry County Chief Judge, ex an NFL player, and many other speakers/vocational trainers. We plan to triple our growth during the upcoming school year with our partnership with Excel Academy in Mcdonough. We will also be partnering with a detention center to provide counseling and mentorship to inmates as a rehabilitation initiative!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In 2023 as we became a 501c3 non-profit organization, I decided to commit to being an entrepreneur and growing Man Up International Alliance, Inc. full time. It has been exciting to see the impact in so many lives of young men, especially those who are growing up without a father figure. Fathers are vital in our society and when they are absent it takes other men to stand in the gap and support the next generation of young men. Although the need is obvious, creating a unified mission and vision for our organization was very challenging during our elementary stages. If was also difficult soliciting support and cultivativing buy-in regarding what we intended to accomplish. With all that being said, through consistency and constant communication we have seen the growth of our organization in ways we would have never imagined!
We’ve been impressed with Man Up International Alliance, Inc., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Man Up International Alliance, Inc.
The purpose of the organization is to provide mentoring services and resources to teenagers and young adults with the intention of assisting them in behavior intervention, graduating high school, career planning, vocational training, and leadership. We currently serve dozens of young men with ages ranging from 12 to 25 years old. We also serve at-risk male students at Excel Academy which is the alternative school for Henry County. What sets us apart from other organizations that resemble what we do is the concept of the Rite of Passage. With the lack of positive male influence in the lives of many teenagers, teenage boys usually struggle with the transition from being a boy to man. Therefore, many of our young men are held captive and are unable to be productive members of society when they reach the age of 18. Lacking guidance and accountability, the statistics show that many of the teenagers in Atlanta and around the world are set up to be incarcerated or financially unstable as adults, especially in the African American community.
Through our Bible based curriculum, one on one mentoring, exposure to career/vocational skills, and interactive field trips, our mentees can receive all the experiences and support needed to go through a Rite of Passage and become responsible men. This is what primarily separates what we do from many other non-profit organizations that provide mentor services to our youth. We address the inner wounds in the child with Bible-based teaching and counseling, while holistically shaping the whole individual!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I believe the most important attribute that contributes to my success has been identifying my identity in Christ. My success honestly stems from my faith in God and commitment to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When I was a teenager, I often wondered what I was supposed to be doing as I sought earnestly for purpose in life. I made many poor decisions in the process of seeking my identity, but when I completely surrendered my life to God, I was able to find my identity and purpose in life. For this reason, helping people find their purpose has been one of my primary missions in life. In the world we live in today, multitudes of people are seeking personal identity and purpose. When a person has a purpose, they are motivated to be productive because they can see the value they possess. If a person is without identity that person is unable to find purpose because their purpose is appended to their identity. Therefore, without a defined purpose it is hard for that individual to identify their value. I am motivated to help individuals, especially young people, find their identity so they can be maximized and display their intrinsic value given by God.
Ultimately, as a Christian, I am successful if I live a life of purpose, service, and devotion to God. As a mentor, and entrepreneur, I strive to empower others to live to the fullness of their purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.manupinternational.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manupinternational/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MANUPELECTLADYALLIANCE/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@manupinternational?si=TRka6hTrXqv77rCG
