Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Phillips.
Jason, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
By age 6, I was already looking at life through a different lens. My parents were separated, and we recently moved to a rougher neighborhood in inner-city Detroit with my grand-parents in a two-family flat home. Intelligent decision-making became a skill that I was forced to learn on the fly. A couple of missteps could have easily cost me my life and/or freedom. I decided early on to not indulge in alcohol or drugs, putting an emphasis on my education, while still partying frequently during my teenage years. The temptation was most certainly present, as many kids in the neighborhood were not as lucky to have strong support systems and mentorship to guide them throughout their adolescent years.
My passion for the mental health and wellness field was developed as a youth. I had always been curious about how and why individuals would make certain choices; ending up in less advantageous situations, and becoming paralyzed when it came to enhancing their own emotional and financial well-being. I cannot give enough credit to my mother for allowing me to make my own choices, yet still in her own subtle way, enforcing the need to surround myself with individuals who had something to lose. My grand-mother also played a very significant role in my life. She started college at age 16 in the 1940s (leaving for financial reasons) and returned to college in her 50s, earning her associates and bachelor’s degree and various awards/accolades during her college tenure. Those two powerful figures in my life sparked my personal journey towards peace and prosperity.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road was somewhat smooth, just sprinkled with detours and roadblocks along the way. Some of these barriers were most certainly self-imposed. I graduated from Detroit’s #1 high school, Cass Technical High School, however during college I lost focus. After my first two years at Wayne State University, I enrolled at community colleges, and eventually earned my bachelor’s degree with honors in 2009 from Eastern Michigan University. It was during my tenure at EMU where I regained focus and maintained a standard of excellence for my collegiate and professional career.
After EMU, I immediately entered graduate school, earning my Masters of Social Work from University of Michigan School of Social Work 2010.
Although I witnessed a lot of Black males fall victim to violence, drugs, and various activities leading to incarceration. I knew from an early age, I wanted more for my life and legacy. The difficult part was navigating how to get from point A to point B without distractions. Thankfully, I was surrounded by positive male and female role models who provided structure and discipline when and where I needed it the most. Never being arrested, nor succumbing to drug use, and being able to start my own business as a life coach would not be possible without resiliency and my strong village. I’m proud to be a licensed therapist, college professor, and life coach, utilizing my story to help others who come from similar backgrounds.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Peace & Prosperity Coaching provides individual and group coaching services to help individuals who are stuck personally and professionally. We assist with you with improving your self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-love. My company is known for transparency, making strong connections with the clients we serve, and helping them become clear and focused on their goals. Without clarity, we can make significant strides, while all the while moving in the wrong direction.
I am most proud of our consistency and ability to grow over the past two years. During the peak of our company taking off and gaining traction, my mother fell ill and unexpectedly died September 2019. Despite suffering such a huge personal loss, we were still able to maintain a strong presence in our field, and our clients witnessed resilience and transparency as I grieved the death of my mother.
What sets us apart from others is our ability to build trust, while simultaneously providing real-time results on the goals identified by each individual. We become creative and make the coaching experience fun and enjoyable for everyone involved!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I absolutely love Atlanta and everything the city has to offer! This includes the nightlife, food, entertainment, and people who really bring the city to life! I have been blessed to be a guest on Therapy for Black Girls Podcast and Spirit’s Free Advice Friday, both companies that are based out of Atlanta, GA. The southern hospitality has been real, along with the amazing food recommendations (shoutout to Tassili’s). In addition, I’ve done numerous collaborations with the Blank Wardrobe, teaching individuals how to wear confidence. The outpouring of love that I receive from the Atlanta residents is genuine and I’m grateful to have made so many lasting connections with the people and their businesses.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pnpcoach.com
- Phone: 734-926-5131
- Email: info@pnpcoach.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jphillipsmsw/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jphillipsmsw
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JPhillipsMSW
Image Credit:
Photo Images: BCP Detroit- Alisha Hunter
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