Meet Mike Bazell | Founder and Mentor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike Bazell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
What can I do to help with the issues in my community? I’m tired of talking about it and complaining about it, so what can I do to change the situation? God spoke to me and gave me the vision to start a mentoring program for young men.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My goal was to become a Juvenile Probation Officer to help steer the younger generation back on the successful track. Even though I’ve been promoted to higher positions in the criminal justice field, I still wanted to continue working with the youth so I started my Mentoring Program, Ambitious Young Men Incorporated.

AYM-Ambitious Young Men is a non-profit 503c that assists young men from ages 7 to 18 who have experienced child abuse, criminality, bullying, neglect, low self-esteem, or troubles with academics by facilitating mentoring relationships, providing opportunities for reflection and self-examination, teaching practical leadership skills. and empowering mentees to reach their full potential as successful young men.. I created the program in 2018. We started off with about two members and now we’re at 20 or more in Coffee County. Myself and Isaiah Paulk are the mentors for the Coffee County program. We also started a program in Macon-Bibb, Georgia that is ran by brother, Ja’Cory Bazell. The program has blossomed through the years and we are excited for the years to come.

AYM prides itself for active service in the community. We have had amazing events such as “Pumping Love Back into the Community,“ which has been successfully held in 2019, 2020, and 2023. Although COVID-19 prevented AYM from hosting the event in other years, they adapted by creating and presenting heartfelt cards and gifts to Still Waters in 2020 and the Coffee Regional Medical Center nurses in 2021. Bazell explained that the inception of “Pumping Love Back into the Community.” AYM also participates in cleaning various parks and community areas, and have provided invaluable assistance to numerous organizations by volunteering at events, where they served food, cleaned, and managed parking, ensuring the smooth operation of these occasions. AYM has also consistently shown their commitment to important causes such as mental health awareness month, national bullying month, and suicide awareness month. During these significant periods, they distributed uplifting cards and thoughtful gifts, reminding community members that they are supported and cared for by people who genuinely empathize with their struggles.

AYM would like for the world to know that no matter the mistakes you make or how many times you fall down, You can still be successful in life. Learn from your mistakes, grow from them, and find your purpose.

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?
Visiting my area would be Coffee County, Georgia so I would definitely take them to Taste of Georgia to get some wings and egg rolls. If they want pizza, I’m taking them to fireside. We’re going to eat good everyday, so I also take them to Carter’s fried chicken and for dessert we can go to Pearls and Holt’s Bakery. We will also have some good church at Greater Destiny International Ministries on Wednesday and Sunday. On Tuesdays, they can join AYM-AmbitiousYoungMen at one of their meetings. On Fridays, it’s a good day to be a Trojan because our football and basketball team are amazing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout my co-mentors, Isaiah Paulk (Coffee County) and Ja’Cory Bazell (Macon-Bibb County)

Website: Www.bazell.org

Instagram: AmbitiousYoungMen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmbitiousYoungMen?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: AYM-AmbitiousYoungMen

Image Credits
PH Services-Ja’Cory Bazell