Arise Male to Man honors participants in first awards banquet  

Arise Male to Man recognized mentors and mentees at their first awards banquet June 8 at the George Evans Convention Center.   

James McGrue and Erice Williams were named Mentors of the Year. Keenan Sturdivant was named Mentee of the Year.  

Cedric Wherry said he started the organization three years ago because he was inspired by the Fredrick Douglass quote, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”   

Since August 2023, six kids from Brantley Elementary School have been paired up with five mentors. The volunteer mentors go through an extensive vetting process which includes background checks and many detailed interviews. Then the men go through rigorous training before they become mentors.  

The participating schools choose the kids for the program because principals and teachers know the kids that need help. After kids are identified, the school reaches out to the parent. The mentor is then carefully matched with a child based on common likes and dislikes.  

“I wanted to be sure there was a list of policies and procedures in place before we started looking for mentors and before we approached any schools to help choose the kids,” former Board President Jacklyn Weir said at the banquet.  

Wherry said the banquet was a night of celebration and thankfulness. “First and foremost, we thank the God we all serve,” Wherry said. “Then there are the board members and staff, the mentors and the parents. Then the mentees who believe in us that we can guard and guide them. Then the community that sees the work of Arise in the community. If they support us and help us, we will make a better Selma.”  

Mentor Timfriet Drane said that while all the mentors wanted to give to the kids, they didn’t expect “what we get from the kids, what they do for us.”   

Payne Elementary School has partnered with the Arise Male to Men Mentoring program. There is a need for more mentors. If you are interested in mentoring or supporting the program in any way, send an email to ariseinc22@gmail.com or call Wherry at 256-508-1131.