OUR JOURNEY
Mr. Kieth W. Mitchell - Founder
The Men Act This Way Mentoring Program was developed from a faith-based, character-focused approach.
2013 - 2014
Men Act This Way began during the 2013–2014 school year by partnering with then Cusseta Road Elementary School in Columbus, GA. A 3rd grade teacher invited Mr. Keith W. Mitchell to speak to her class. Mr. Mitchell suggested that she allow him to come on a regular basis to present a program he had been using with community partners. The teacher spoke with the school principal and the then Boys of Distinction School Program began with 18 3rd grade boys.
2014 - 2015
Mr. Mitchell met weekly with the boys between 10:00am–11:00am every Thursday morning. The program continued through the 2014–2015 school year until Cusseta Road Elementary closed and became Dorothy Height Elementary School. The Boys of Distinction School Program continued at Dorothy Height Elementary and continued to provide mentoring during the school day.
2017 - 2018
During the 2017–2018 school year, a Georgetown Elementary School teacher reached out to have the mentoring program brought to their school. The Boys of Distinction School Program was expanded to Georgetown Elementary School with 20 3rd to 5th grade boys.
To increase the opportunity for more men to get involved, the Boys of Distinction School Program partnered with Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Association to train men from these churches on the curriculum, partner with school principals, and adopt elementary schools. Fourth Street Baptist Church, Friendship Baptist Church, and Nazareth Baptist Church were also added to provide mentoring to other schools.
Mr. Cardiotone, who developed a health and wellness program for kids, partnered with Boys of Distinction School Program and Men Act This Way. The curriculum now included character development and physical conditioning. The new program was able to tie these two areas together successfully. Boys of Distinction focused on elementary youth while Men Act This Way was designated to focus on middle school and high school youth.
2019
In 2019, the Boys of Distinction School Program was dissolved while Men Act This Way was incorporated, becoming the name of the Mentoring Program. Men Act This Way partnered with Greater Peach Baptist Church, and an additional 8 elementary schools.
The program would receive $19,000 in grant funds from the Columbus Consolidated Government Crime Prevention Program Community Grant Funds to support the mentoring program.
2020 - present
Men Act This Way, Inc. is now part of 17 elementary schools and 3 middle schools across the state of Georgia. It is funded by the Crime Prevention Community Grant Program and the Columbus Georgia Community Reinvestment Block Grant Program. Men Act This Way has received over $100,000 in grant funding to support its program goals.
Elementary Schools
- Allen
- Blanchard
- Brewer
- Dawson
- Dimon
- Dorothy Height
- Forrest Rd.
- Fox
- Georgetown
- Hanna
- J.D. Davis
- Lonnie Jackson
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Reese Rd.
- Rigdon Rd.
- South Columbus
- St. Mary’s Rd.
Middle Schools
- Baker
- Blackmon Rd.
- Eddy
