Meet Dr. N. Jean Hudley | Mental Toughness Game Changer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. N. Jean Hudley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. N. Jean, how does your business help the community?
I have been able to open the minds of young people who think they cannot do things they see other people do. I have been good at showing them they count despite their short comings. For the most part, I have been able to correct their behavior without any negative feedback, while embracing them with love and compassion at the same time. I have shared some of my own life experiences, pro and con, showing them I am not looking down from any ladder of perfection, only of experience. I have introduced them to many men who have fallen, and are now doing some great works in our community. I have introduced them to men who have not fallen the same ways, and are willing to teach them the necessary prevention methods, building their self esteem and skills levels.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I wish I could really explain my work. Our mission is to empower vulnerable young black males & females to become the best and fullest expression of themselves through tailored youth development programming. On the other hand, we do far more than described! We are mentors, mental health advisers, case managers, baby sitters, teachers, mothers, chefs, chau ffers, fathers and even whaling walls!! We always answer our phones when off the clock! We don’t stay angry with our kids. How can you help them by keeping them out? The problem is, many of us are dealing with our own ego!

I get excited when I see progress in our kids and I know we had some input. We have pediatric nurse, a bit coin successful investor, an entrepreneur with his own clothing line, a manager of a major grocery chain, a soldier in the Army, a tractor trailer driver with 6 children he loves and cares for, a Prime America Agent, A Project Mgr., a Prime American financial planner, and so many more!

This was and is a very difficulty journey. But each time I say I quite, a kid calls me and I just look up in the sky, and say OK, I’ll shut up. I also have a problem with people who say their going to do something that they don’t do. And up until maybe 10 years ago, I would confront them and get annoyed when what they didn’t give me what I considered a credible answer. It has been difficult for me to accept the fact that people are different, and don’t share the same empathy, compassion or understanding that ‘s needed among this current generation. Why won’t Black People take better care of our Black Children? Why do people not understand that nonprofits are a business that can only operate with financial support. However, our ultimate profit is gained through the positive outcomes of the work. Though the challenges have been stressful, I am constantly reminded of why I am here. Its for our children, who I am very totally committed to. Nonetheless, because the funds do not come in on a regular basis, I work a full-time outside of the program, 40 hours a week, which helps to supplement the program.

When I came to GA Aug. 11, 1982 with $600 and a round trip, I came scared to death. I guess that was God preparing me for this walk, because I had never been south in my life. Three weeks later, I had a job, and beautiful home to bring my three children to. In the year 2000 I started to develop the Boys2Men Home & Sanctuary for Youth Program.

There was so much I didn’t know when I started this program, But it didn’t matter, I saw a need and just started taking free classes, and reaching out to people who were far more advanced in this arena. I reached out to , Juvenile Court officials, and anyone else that could guide me through this new phase of my life. I knew that the
only way for me to learn was to do it, until I got it right. Mistakes and all which had to be apart of the development process. So my position is, whatever your dream, don’t wait to get it perfect, work on it to perfect what ever the goal. You can’t move forward if you don’t move.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would have lunch at Freda’s Restaurant in Fayetteville, and then go to the Illuminarium Atlanta for a dreamland experience on the Beltline. Later that evening we would have dinner on the patio and catch up on life’s successes and challenges. The next morning we would have breakfast at Butter Milk Kitchen in Roswell. Then visit my 84 year old sister who is a hoot and wealth of wisdom. We would then come back to the house, rest up and get ready to go dance and have a beverage or two — smile at the Hyatt Centric on the roof top at the Spaceman Club in Buckhead where my son-n-law is a fabulous DJ 3 X per month. The next morning we would prepare breakfast at home and go to my office where I would be preparing for an entrepreneur workshop with our kids. She would have the opportunity to provide any input she deems feasible during that learning module. Later that evening we would go to a local restaurant and bar where they have a DJ and Karaoke where we would participate. Hopefully, there is a concert scheduled during her visit that we would want to miss or the Atlanta Black Chamber has an event she can participate in and meet some of the great people I work with. It would be a crescendo effect if Dr. Wallace was available to have lunch with us before her departure. He is a wonderful man that I met through the Koch Brothers Youth Entrepreneur program who funded Boys2Men & Girls2Win for three years. He was the outreach director for eight states. He now has a private school entitled Seeds of Excellence Christian Academy where he teaches children 6 wks to 6th grade to include two languages. He is a genuine and committed leader in our comnunities.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Dr. Steven Lee who mentored me through the initial story he shared me about how he would sit out in front of his apt. and engage the children in the complex. He began to help them with their H.W. and was ultimately given an apartment to work with the children in. I thought that was so cool, which was part of my inspiration for turning the garage in my small home, into a classroom. I started with 4 boys from 2 families and end up with 18 about three weeks later. I had no idea what I was doing, but today I understand clearly. I thank Dr. Lee for the inspiration.

Miranda Moss has been my ride or die! She has been a crucial part of our organization since 2013. She has been committed and focused on anything I needed her support for. Anything she does, she does with excellence. She
does so out of her love for this program. She is special!

During this journey we were donated 700 pairs of shoes and donated 150 pairs to a small village in Uganda. As a result I was connected with an acapella group entitled Jahovah Shaloam. After communicating with their manager for a few months they committed to creating a theme song for our organization entitled Boys2Men We Save The World. It is beautiful. Since that time I have been providing financial support for Kato, the manager, who went through a very difficult time with his wife and children during the COVID Pandemic. This support has also included my cousin, Dr. Brian Hudley who served as our Board President for a period before returning to acquire his PhD. He was working for CDC and responsible for checking equipment in Uganda. So I made arrangement for the young men to meet him at his hotel. It was awesome to see and talk to them during their visit. Another colleague, Tammy Hines, the founder of Bringing People to People also provides funds and other forms of support to help this young man. He is a smart young man with Christian values and a determination, that for me, is more than encouraging.

Venida Hudley is the epitome of service! She is service in the flesh!! She is focused and time conscious, so deadlines will not be missed with the wonderful woman of faith. When she sees the need Venida is going to do what needs to be done with much joy. She is physically, logistically and financially involved with the program. She has just come back from a one year visit to Africa where he donated her skills to one non=profit or small business for 1 month in 12 countries. One of which was Uganda where Kato and his twin brother came to meet her and celebrate her birthday. I once again had the chance to talk to these two excited young men to be in the room with this wonderful community advocate. She returned home in Feb of this year excited about her experience, so much so, that she started writing a book before she left. Venida is an angel on earth and more than an inspiration. Smile

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