We recently connected with Brandon Jenkins and have shared our conversation below.
Brandon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My mission is very simple- to create inclusive spaces for men in education to express themselves though fashion. I have always had an affinity for fashion but growing up I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to see male teachers dressing professionally. I believe it is very important for children especially children of color to see teachers who look like them dressing up. This is an opportunity to empower children and change their path in life, even though it is a small part of influencing youth for a positive it leaves a lasting impact forever..
Brandon, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Born and raised in Houston Texas I always knew that I wanted to change the world, as cliche as that sounds I knew that was what I wanted in life, and to achieve that was to be able to mentor and impact youth not only academically but socially as well. Growing up in East Houston, I quickly realized at a young age that I didn’t share the same interest as many of the other boys in the area. I was not athletically inclined and had no desire to join sports, I began to realize that I was a dreamer, a creative, and extremely determined to tear down social structures. As I began to grow into my passion, I recognized that my skills as a creative easily translated into the classroom, once I entered college and started preparing myself for the education sector, I began to understand that my duties as an educator were just bigger than mine.
Growing into my aspirations and being presented with many amazing opportunities, I became closer to reaching a higher elevation of myself but with great moments also come great obstacles. Many challenging times seemed like there was not a light at the end of the tunnel but growing up with a resilient mother has attributed to my ambition and drive to achieve greatness. Watching my single mother work hard to ensure that I had the necessary tools to take on life made me into the person I am today, every time I reach a new milestone I hear her voice “I want you to be successful, I want you to be the best version of yourself”. With the help of my mother, I have been able to work with Houston leaders, make educational reforms, and assist with university education reviews and many other accolades.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being a creative is connecting with people who have the same passion as you. I am also able to foster organic relationships through social media and education because believe it or now they do intersect!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I actually started off as a regular user of social media, I did not have any intention to grow a following or even create content of any sort. I remember talking with a friend and they told me that I have a good eye for photography. I started experimenting and playing with different types of pictures and started to enter the world men’s lifestyle and fashion! I grew a following by just being myself and letting people into my life virtually! The advice I can give is to be authentic in your approach to social media , let yourself be open to trying new things and just do it!
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