By: Isaiah S. Showell, Follow South Jersey Multimedia Journalist/’What’s Good’ Host
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Friday is Tie Day, a nonprofit organization that is focused on building gentleman through mentorship and fatherhood, held their first in person meeting at ACESPORTS at the Tanger Outlets in Atlantic City. The meeting marks the first time the organization has been in person since the pandemic began and founder and CEO Darrell Edmonds orchestrated it.
“We used to meet at a restaurant but with Covid that wasn’t the best set up, so we have a space like this where it’s big enough and it allows us to do what we need to do technology wise,” said Edmonds.
A post-secondary plan is what Edmonds emphasizes to the young men in his organization to eliminate all opportunities for the young men to float by in life and skip intentionally planning for their future and the way in which they will achieve their goals.
“Unfortunately, young Black and Latino Men do not get the grace that others might get if they run into some trouble,” said Edmonds. “It tends to stick with them, so the goal is to have a plan. We have guys who have decided not to go to college but they’re working; whatever they have set themselves too I need them to set themselves wholeheartedly.”
The pandemic left a blemish on the schedule for Friday is Tie Day specifically their trip to Atlanta to go visit a few colleges, but this upcoming summer Edmonds plans to make up for lost time with the young men and take them to Georgia Tech, Morehouse College, and Mercer College.
After the business and more planning for their summer trip was complete, the young men had ACESPORTS at their disposal whether it was video games, racing track, or the Oculus the boys had more than enough to keep them occupied for the remainder of the day.
- What’s Good In South Jersey? The Water – With Isaiah Showell
- Atlantic County To Offer Free Flu Vaccines In October
- What’s Good In South Jersey? Summer Youth Employment Celebration – With Isaiah Showell
Follow South Jersey provides local journalism which highlights our diverse communities; fosters transparency through robust, localized, and vital reporting that holds leaders and institutions accountable; addresses critical information needs; supports people in navigating civic life; and equips people with the information necessary to partake in effective community engagement. If there is a story or event you think we should cover, please send your tips to news@followsouthjersey.com with “NEWS” in the subject line.
