The 13th Man Launches Charlotte Chapter to Empower Young Men through a Unique Sports and Mentoring Leadership Program

    CHARLOTTE, NC, May 08, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Nineteen young men will become the charter members of the Charlotte, NC Chapter of The 13th Man, a national program created to elevate the lives of young men through empowerment, development, and leadership engagements.

E. Davon Kelly, Founder and CEO, explains the motivation for the 13th Man, "I have based my career journey on three simple questions: Why me? Why now? Why not?! Everyone deserves a chance to play! Everyone has something to offer. But not everyone knows how to get in the game. This is the goal of The 13th Man. My vision for the organization is that every young man across the nation will develop themselves to engage, act and lead as a confident community game changer."

The inaugural event for the Charlotte Chapter was the Spring Classics, a leadership development program that focuses on life skills and enrichment activities to encourage young men to become leaders in their communities. Participants also learn how to be accountable for their actions.

The three-day event, offered free to participants, was held at the Charlotte Renaissance Hotel in the upscale area of South Park. The program commenced with Davon Kelly and Charlotte Chapter President, Fred Lott, who focused on reinforcing the values of personal confidence, leveraging mentors to remove obstacles from their path, conducting one's self with respect to receive respect, and overcoming perceived stereotypes. The day ended at Sky Zone followed by 'Guy Talk' on lessons learned from two speakers who transformed themselves from alternative paths to productive citizens. They shared personal stories of empowerment, work ethics, and values.

The second day began with a 7:00 AM basketball scrimmage at Park Place Park and included a variety of workshops, the topics were:
- "What Will You Do When Your Ball Goes Flat?"
- "Making Good Choices"
- "Kingdom Man"
- "Personal Presentation"

For the learning activity, a group of entrepreneurs, bankers, attorneys, civic leaders, IT professionals, and pastors joined the aspiring leaders for a panel discussion that focused on professional journeys, life lessons, stereotypes, and life challenges. Each participant was assigned a Mentor that will partner with them throughout the program. The weekend concluded with a wonderful church service at Pastor Fred Lott's church, Turning Point Ministries (TPM) in Gastonia, NC. During church service, Mr. Kelly shared his vision for the organization and growing the Charlotte chapter.

For others interested in joining the 13th Man Charlotte Chapter or joining us at the 13th Man Picnic in Gastonia on Saturday, June 10th from 11:00 AM until 6:00 PM, please call (301) 429-8807, or visit the website: www.the13thman.org.

About THE 13TH Man
The 13th Man is creating a new generation of young men who are equipped with the academic, leadership, and personal skills they need to stand out and succeed. Through mentoring, personal development, and enrichment activities, The 13th Man helps hundreds of young men each year discover the men they want to become.

The 13th Man program components include:
- Leadership: Summer / Spring Classics and Mentoring Program
- College Enrichment: College Applications/Scholarships and College Tours
- Academic Tutoring: Reading, Math, Science
- Personal Development: Financial Literacy and Etiquette
- Athletic: Individual and Team Sports

About E. Davon Kelly
Davon Kelly has taught the value of team and sportsmanship as an assistant varsity basketball coach at Episcopal High School since 2003. Mr. Kelly is also the author of From Courtside to the Boardroom: A Legacy in the Making, where he shares his wisdom and experience both on and off the court. Proceeds from book sales are donated to the 13th Man. The CEO of NOVAD Management Consulting and owner of My Barber's Lounge, Davon Kelly created the 13th Man as an opportunity to invest in young men during the critical formation years from ages 12 to 17. He attended Florida Tech University as an undergraduate and earned a Master's degree in Finance from Bowie State University.

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