Trevor Rudd was raised in Hollister, North Carolina. Growing up as a black male in a rural area that was heavily influenced by Native American heritage, Trevor wanted to expand his horizons to learn more about his black culture. This led him to attend the largest HBCU in the nation – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University as a first-generation college student. Throughout his tenure, Rudd felt purposed to find more about himself and how he could serve the world around him. He is a proud Aggie alumnus that ended his undergraduate career with bachelor’s degrees in Business Education and Information Technology. Currently, he is pursuing a Master’s in Higher Education and Educational Leadership. Trevor became a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity by way of the Eta Chapter at A&T and continues his commitment to the fraternity in Greensboro, North Carolina. He strives to live the fraternity’s motto of “Culture for Service.” In 2016, Trevor established The Village Mentoring, Inc. in Greensboro – a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that focuses on student development within the community of young, black men. He is actively involved in the Piedmont Chapter of the Project Management Institute and is employed with Guilford County Schools. His love for education is and student development is what motivates him to continually aid in student success.
The Village Mentoring, Inc. Bio: The Village Mentoring aims to build young, black men and boys through motivation, development, and exercise evaluation. The organization is all-male inclusive and houses a plethora of academic programs that cater to all age groups including the Boys Book Club (grades 3-5), Male Scholars Academy (grades 6-8), Branch Academy (grades 10-12), Freshman Huddle (incoming college freshmen), and a Student Leader Development Program that works with 30+ black males from local universities in the Greensboro area. While student support programming is the organization’s main priority, it also strives to provide activism within the Greensboro area through a plethora of community projects and initiatives such as the annual Alzheimer’s Awareness Day, the HBCU Day College Fair, T-Shirts for Tots, Autism Awareness, Blankets for the Homeless, and a monthly Boys To Men forum. Our purpose is to provide a safe space for young black men to grow and cultivate their talents and skills in a productive manner. We provide substantial emotional support and stability for our students and strive to teach our men how to believe in their own potential, so that they can provide light for other young boys to believe in themselves.
What inspired your to start your non-profit organization
What inspired me to start my nonprofit was the scarcity of male-based programs in majority of the urban areas in North Carolina. At the time of establishment, Guilford County public schools had a 2% enrollment increase of male students but there was a 40 percent gap between female and male based programming – with male programs being the minority. Even at most HBCUs, you tend to see a plethora of women-driven organizations and support programs, but only one premiere male organization. Even with the implementation of more black male development programs, it’s hard to provide free resources and retain male students to be actively involved. I felt that if I could create an organization that built a platform on accountability, transparency, vulnerability, and driving an investment into each individual male student – that it would be an opportunity to not just create a nonprofit or an academic program, but to build a community that specialized in transforming boys into men and students into leaders.
How did your HBCU experience impact the man you are today ?
North Carolina A&T State University believes in AGGIE PRIDE – Achieving Great Goals in Everything, Producing Renowned Individuals Dedicated to Excellence. My HBCU affirmed me each day. It taught me how to take ownership of my future. It supported me by providing me with a community of black peers who pushed me to be my best. It humbled me to understand that I have to enjoy being a student constantly because while there is a time to teach, there is always a time to learn. A&T gave me a brotherhood through my fraternity and that alone introduced me to the leader that had been hiding inside of me for majority of my life. A&T taught me how to give selflessly, experience life spontaneously, and work my absolute hardest to get the best out of what life had to offer. I am forever indebted to A&T for teaching me not what to think, but how to think.
What are some of the main areas you see with the young men, that as a culture, we can help build them up in?
Over the past 3.5 years, the reoccurring struggle I see within the young men I lead always starts with self-confidence. I can resonate with that because it used to be an issue for me as well. Because black men are taught to be strong and not open about their weaknesses, you have to be intentional about observing patterns behind their actions and decisions if you really want to understand the issues that limit them from reaching their potential. In order to really be effective in The Village, I had to learn how to be relatable. I think to truly impact anyone, it starts with relatability and meeting people where they are. You can’t expect to just walk in a room, give a positive speech, say a quote, then leave and expect for your job to be done. It requires you to break down each young man’s pattern, taking time to have conversations with them, learning their story, connecting their past to their present, and finding avenues where you can reroute them to a brighter future. As a society, I think it is easy to tell young, black men and black boys what we expect of them and what the world expects of them, but we have to be open to listening to their needs and striving to reciprocate the support behind their expectations as well.
What are some words of advice you want to leave to young men
The quote that I lead with every year with my guys and that I share with any young man I encounter is this: “If your absence does not make a difference, your presence never did.” There are two common things that people in this world have the ability to do – the ability to be seen and the ability to be heard. Many have not mastered the art of being felt. When you learn how to command a room with your intellect, your character, resilience, and confidence in who you are, it will take you far. Remember that while black men are the ones under attack in society, there is also a common respect and protection that black women fight for every day as well. Treat black women with respect, with honor, and advocate for them because they will always fight for you. Above all, lead your life with accountability. It is the glue that ties commitment to results.
Follow Trevor on social media @trevjrudd
Photo Credit- Trevor Rudd
