We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. J. A. Rob, Jr. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. J. A. , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Our mission: is to develop strong bodies, minds and spirits within our community. A leader for “Tomorrow Today.: A scholar, mentor and teacher for the future. One who is caring, passionate and hardworking. A willing leader and learner full of hope (helping other people evolve) those with leadership with an eagerness to go to college. We can only give what we have when we have something to give that is meaningful, worthy and gifted. Something full of character because we all know CHARACTER COUNTS!
Dr. J. A. , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As a child growing up in Montgomery, Ala. in the 60’s black youths often found themselves in single parent households with more than one sibling and no male role models. Moms were struggling and many times under educated, hopeless and with no income. Praying. crying and wanting a way out but too afraid to leave their children behind many stayed suffering and endured hardships. I knew I could make a difference at an early age if I got a good education, mentor, great teachers who cared about me and looked at my uncles as my role models. Mr. William (Kid) Franklin, my neighbor and first mentor, saw something special in me, He encouraged me, my grandfather’s Frank Brinson and James Roberson taught me the bible, and my community loving spirit guided me. These individuals gave me strength, foundation, and heart. along with my second-grade teacher to believe in myself as I learned “A winner never quits, a quitter never Wins’. So, I refused to be a quitter in life at the tender age of seven years old and didn’t complain. Opened up my mind, books and dreamed of all I could be growing up as a black child in Alabama with a very special grandmother. Today, I am most proud of the work I do to help kids in my hometown and community in Houston, Tx. That is much like me. Hopeful, dreamers, goal oriented and lacking not because it’s their choice but a way of life in the inner city of 3rd ward, 5th ward. South Park. Sunnyside and many of our poorest communities are rich with academically successful scholars, Plenty kids but few poor mentoring programs to enhance their dreams and scholarship efforts. PBMAH’s goal is to build “Tomorrow’s Leaders Today” through Leadership, Academic Success, Community service, College Readiness, giving back and awarding Scholarships. Our mission and work are children and community tailored. PBMAH is geared toward preventing crime, drug usages and incarceration among teens, slow teen pregnancy, hinder the dropout rate in public schools and stop the killing of our children by our children, while improving the social justice agenda within the black and brown communities.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
As a child with an alcoholic mother, I often had to take care of her being the oldest of four children. I made many sacrifices, many times not eating so my sisters and brother could eat. Went without shoes, clothing, heat, beds and other things so my siblings could be comfortable, happy and go to school. Carried my mom to her first AA meeting (she passed away 45 yrs. clean) and often paid the rent for us while in Jr. & high school so we would not always be homeless. Growing up as a teen parent wasn’t easy either. Married at 18 yrs. old and a father I took control of my life and gave my family (wife and child) what I never had as a child. Shelter, food, love, and protection. Went to work in the morning’s college at night and on the weekends as well. I found manhood, good men who guided and mentored me. I found love for my mother all over again in spite of her abandoning us at the age of six in Montgomery. Everyone deserves a second chance, especially our mothers.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
The early years funding was very difficult. PBMAH was always funded through my efforts to work second and third jobs to feed the kids, pay for camps, college tours, back -to -school uniforms and give at Christmas time, etc. We had fish fry events, garage sales and small donors to help us. Today, we have supporters and foundation sponsors who give to enrich our camp efforts, college tours and support PBMAH Scholarship Fund. We are blessed and encourage you, our readers and friends to continue to aid our efforts. We want to send more youth to college and do more within our community. We are a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, and your donations are tax deductible.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pbmah.org
- Instagram: PBMA_LOGP
- Facebook: pbmah rob
- Twitter: @pbmahouston
Image Credits
Martin Munoz