On a crisp autumn afternoon in 2015, a young sophomore named Namon Smith walked into his first BAM (Becoming A Man)) session at John Hope College Prep. The program, designed to foster emotional intelligence and provide mentorship to young men, became the guiding force Namon didn’t realize he desperately needed.
Born and raised in a single-parent household, Namon had grown accustomed to a life of frustration and anger. His father had been in and out of prison since he was in eighth grade, leaving Namon to navigate adolescence without the male role model he craved. “I was the only boy in my house,” Namon says. “There was a lot of anger in me, and I didn’t know how to deal with it.”
Then came BAM. Established by Youth Guidance, the program offers in-school mentoring and social-emotional support to help young men overcome the challenges that often push them toward violence. For Namon, it was an unexpected lifeline, providing not only a safe space to express his emotions but also the strong male role model he had been seeking. That mentor was Rickey Williams-Layfield.
Unleashing Potential
Rickey’s commitment to BAM runs deep. Over his ten years with Youth Guidance, he has worn many hats—counselor, supervisor, curriculum specialist—and mentored hundreds of young men. For Rickey, BAM is not just about preventing violence; it’s about helping young men discover their own potential, despite the odds stacked against them.
“I see myself in a lot of the students I work with,” Namon says. “I know what it’s like to be angry, to feel lost. That’s why I’m so dedicated to showing up for these boys the way Rickey showed up for me.”
Namon was no exception. Over time, the young man who once struggled with unchecked anger began to blossom. Through the group circles, Namon learned how to process his emotions constructively and lean on the support of his peers. But it was Rickey’s consistent presence—showing up at Namon’s basketball games, staying after hours to talk—that made the real difference.
“Rickey came to more of my games than my own family,” Namon recalls. “It meant the world to me. He was there when no one else was.” That support, Namon says, helped him learn to manage his anger, turning what once threatened to derail his future into motivation to succeed. “He taught me how to be a man and a leader.”
Today, the student has become the mentor. Namon, now a BAM counselor himself, has come full circle. His journey from troubled teen to mentor is a powerful testament to the transformative power of BAM’s model—a model that recognizes the potential in every young man, regardless of their circumstances.
“I see myself in a lot of the students I work with,” Namon says. “I know what it’s like to be angry, to feel lost. That’s why I’m so dedicated to showing up for these boys the way Rickey showed up for me.” He attends their games, helps them through their challenges, and reminds them, as Rickey reminded him, that they are capable of more than they realize.
Paying it Forward
For Rickey, watching Namon evolve from a struggling high school sophomore to a confident, capable mentor is one of his proudest moments. “Seeing Namon become a leader in his own right, knowing that I had a part in that—it’s the greatest feeling in the world.”
But the story doesn’t end here. Both Namon and Rickey have a vision for BAM’s future: expanding the program to reach young men beyond high school. “Real manhood starts after graduation,” Namon says. “We need to make sure these young men continue to have guidance as they step into adulthood.”
As they look to the future, both men remain steadfast in their mission: to break the cycle of violence and empower the next generation of leaders. They know firsthand that the journey from student to mentor is not an easy one, but it is one filled with hope.
“BAM changed my life,” Namon says. “Now it’s my turn to pay it forward.”