Page 13 - Graypvine August 2021

Akim Trammel's mentorship

program sets youth up for success

Seven years ago, Akim Trammell and his good has also hosted a back to school drive at the
friend, Justin Hunt, decided to start a mentorship beginning of each school year. With sponsorships
program in Summerville, South Carolina to give the from Walmart, Staples, BJ’s and local stores, plus
local young men a place to participate in activities in additional help from local fire departments, law
their neighborhood, and to prepare them for going enforcement and the local national guard, these
out into the world after graduating from high school. events feature bounce houses, face painting,
Akim joined the Gray team in March and is currently free haircuts, hygiene supplies, food, basketball
working as a Field Engineer on the Nestle Purina tournaments and talent shows. In the first year, the
project in Batavia, Ohio. He’s been in the construction program gave school supplies to more than 200 kids,
industry for eleven years, and his experience ranges but the program has grown exponentially; in its fourth 13
from underground utilities, construction management year, 1,500 kids were given supplies.
and surveying. His passion for developing young In recent years, Akim says the Build a Brother
men is personal; he grew up in the inner city of North
Charleston and recognized the need for a program to
give youth opportunities to succeed. "We focus on
“Being in/from the inner-city, you encounter a getting all mentees
lot,” said Akim. “Violence, no funding for summer ready for the real
programs, harassment/over policing by law world. We have
enforcement, recreational centers being closed and
more. We figured that we would create a program tutoring programs,
that could give the youth something to be a part of community service
and show them accountability.” opportunites and
So in May of 2014, the Build-a-Brother Foundation we set them up
was started. Akim describes it as a mentorship for trade school
program for young men in the inner city, in 9th if college isn't the
through 12th grade. They also partner with
the Distinguished Gentleman's Club, a Brother path for them."
organization that serves kids in 3rd through 8th AKIM TRAMMELL
grade. Today, the Build-a-Brother program has 20-30
volunteers working behind the scenes.
“We focus on getting all mentees ready for the real Foundation added a new program called Stand As One
world,” said Akim. “We teach them how to present (SA1) to discuss current social topics.
and carry themselves, how to conduct themselves “We had a long talk with the youth in the program and
during interviews; we teach them about finances, they wanted to focus on social issues that are going on in
and how to treat women. We have open discussion their community,” said Akim. “From that we developed SA1,
forums on past and present social issues, tutoring which is a coalition of multiple social groups that focuses on
programs, community service opportunities, and we social injustices, unification, and community outreach.”
set them up for trade school if college isn’t the path Akim hopes to continue growing the Build a Brother
for them.” Foundation and giving more young people opportunities
Since its inception, the Build-a-Brother Foundation to reach their full potential while restoring the community.