Family man, coach, educator, and mentor are just a few hats worn by Nick Rankins. After more than a decade of mentorship with Upward Bound, Boys and Girls Club, and Kappa Alpha Psi’s Guide Right Program, Nick was encouraged to lead a program of his own. He decided to answer the calling, envisioning a group where young men could receive the love he was shown as a kid and learn what principles it takes to be men led by self-respect and maximized potential.
Young Men on a Mission (YMOAM) mentors young men, in grades 3rd-12th, by emphasizing family, education, social activities, and community. As Executive Director, Nick uses every opportunity to expand the young men’s exposure and teach valuable life lessons. Among many things, YMOAM participates in urban gardening, feeding the elderly, clean-up programs, and educational tours.
Changing the Narrative: Black Men and Boys Garden Too
Gardening is known to help with self-esteem, reduce stress, and positively impact psychical and mental health; however, it is an activity that is no longer deemed common in areas well-documented for being plaque by chronic stress, little or no access to health insurance, and limited access to healthy foods. Although we have seen a transformation over the last few decades, gardening is not an unknown phenomenon to people of color. YMOAM is our reminder.
YMOAM has brought new life to the Nixon-Times community by creating a community garden. When asked about his decision to break this barrier, Nick expressed the importance of self-sufficiency, sustainability, and responsibility. While gardening, the young men are learning the value of patience by waiting to see the result of hard work blossom. They also learn how to supply their community’s needs and create a food source, when uncertain times as a pandemic hit.
Increasing Food Security
According to the CDC, “Food deserts areas characterized by poor access to healthy and affordable food, may contribute to social and spatial disparities in diet and diet-related health outcomes.” While improving food security, YMOAM uses the opportunity to introduce the community to new vegetables by allowing anyone from the community to pick their vegetables. Once a month, YMOAM also partners with a caterer, Beyond The Plate, to use fresh foods from the gardens to create meals for the community’s elders.
Reshaping the Community
Fields that once held trash and debris now serve as beacons of hope. It is not uncommon to hear adjacent neighbors discussing plans of renovating their homes. If you drive by, it is very likely to see community members, and not just YMOAM, working tirelessly to maintain the garden. YMOAM bonded with the communities through their collaborative efforts. Nick makes it known to everyone that while YMOAM initiated the garden’s revitalization, the gardens belong to the communities.
Honoring History
The Nixon-Times Community Garden is named after two Civil Rights legends, E.D. Nixon and Lucille Times. Together, the two organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott. A big part of YMOAM is learning self-love and self-respect by learning about the creativity, resilience, courage, and connectivity found in Black history and current cultural activities.
One of Nick’s life mottos says, “Together we can make a difference,” and each day, he shows how much. For more information on Young Men on a Mission or to donate, please call 334-294-3602 or email youngmenonamission1@gmail.com.