Fellow Success Stories

​Jamison, class of 20/21 Cohor`t “ThugX,” and one of our first EVER scholarship recipients, is slowly craving his path out at Syracuse University!

Jamison is currently a first-year student studying Psychology in the College of Arts and Science and loves Cuse (just not the weather.)

"Project Thug not only helped me prepare for life away from Miami, but it helped me be comfortable with myself. I understood it was ok to be interested in things others weren't."

Lennox, a graduate of the 20/21 cohort "ThugX," is now, among many things working full-time as a barber while balancing school and working on completing his first novel.

​"Project Thug empowered me to make choices aligned with who I wanted to be and where I wanted to go. I took an unconventional route, and project thug supported it." 

Cliff Williams, a graduate of the 19/20 cohort, was nominated to us by a school community specialist. Cliff was on the verge of being retained in the 8th grade due to missing school and underperforming academically.

Cliff entered our program and made a complete turnaround! Cliff signed our cohort contract and became an honor roll student!

​"I didn't like school and wasn't interested in it. I could do the work, but I didn't want to. In project thug, I couldn't let my brothers down. I learned that, like it or not, school is a stepping stone to owning a business one day. So I turned it around."

Shelden, class of 19/20 Cohort “First Kings,” entered the program as a senior in middle school and is now entering his senior year of high school.

Shelden has sat on board calls, attended networking and fundraising events, and given countless hours back to PT, but most importantly, he represents our organization with pride and true valor!

"Project Thug gave so much to me, so I wanted to give back. I felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself and wanted to make sure younger guys had the chance to get the things I got. That's why I've been so involved even though I finished so long ago."

Anders, a graduate of the 19/20 cohort "First Kings," entered the program during his junior year of high school in search of a place to prepare for his future.

As a Haitian immigrant Anders used Project Thug as a place to get up to speed with the demands of school in the United States.

"Project Thug put me through a shark tank experience, and I had to present a business. That workshop helped me understand what it takes to be a businessman, and I used it to prepare to own my own business. I am now in the process of that."

Kai, a 19/20 cohort "First Kings" graduate, often used the term "loner" to describe himself before Project Thug. Kai enrolled during his senior year of middle school and was deeply afraid of entering social spaces for fear of how people would receive him.

Now a junior in Highschool Kai is a member of the Marching Band and serves as a section lead! And has joined various clubs and sports, even acting in several leadership roles!

"I didn't want people to judge me or make fun of me, but when I joined project thug, I not only gained a group of brothers, but I was also accepted and pushed to be better. My favorite workshop was the mental health seminar because it related to why I didn't want to open up. But look at me now!"