We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christopher Green a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Christopher, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story that illustrates an important or relevant lesson you learned in school

In the spring of 1996, I began my journey at Benedict College. It was one of the most exciting yet frightening moments of my life. As a first-generation college student, I was stepping into something completely unfamiliar—something I knew would impact my life forever. I did not know what to do, who to talk to, or where to go. My heart raced uncontrollably, my nerves were all over the place, and the fear of the unknown quickly set in.

I vividly remember my first day on campus. I felt like a child starting preschool for the first time. After my mother dropped me off, I realized I was truly on my own. I wandered the campus, introducing myself and talking to different people. Slowly, I began to feel at ease when I realized that many of them shared the same fears and uncertainties that I did. We were all navigating the unknown together.

As time passed, life on campus became more comfortable. I learned my way around, built relationships, and formed lasting connections. My professors became like family, and college life soon became my new normal. Benedict College became more than just a place of learning—it became a space of growth, belonging, and self-discovery.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned during my college experience was to stop comparing myself to others. Everyone has a different story to tell and a unique journey through life. I have always valued my individuality and never felt the need to fit into someone else’s mold. I wanted the world to know who I was.

From college to the present, I have built something truly special—something I am incredibly proud of. I founded a mentoring program that has positively impacted my community and beyond. Through this work, I have been given the opportunity to share my story on local news stations and in magazines across the country. These platforms allowed me to speak about why I became a mentor and, most importantly, why I am committed to mentoring young males.

Christopher, 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?

Open mind Mentor is an organization I started in 2011. This was a nonprofit organization that worked with young males ages 11-18. I wanted to help those young males who needed extra push and guidance in life. I have served over 500 young males in my organization.
In 2021 I lost my dad to complications of Covid. This has been a very tough time for me. As a result of that, I had to unfortunately, end my organization.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I started Open-Mind Mentoring in 2011. Received my 501c3 in 2015. I mentored young males from all walks of life. I provided a safe space for them to express themselves, learn how to be a man, grow to be the best they can be and leant to for back to their community.
I had to pivot my life and my organization in august 2021. My dad got sick from Covid and later passed away from Covid complications. This has been a very tough time and I was dedicated to invest the time into my organization and I had prior.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I hosted an event called “Boys with a bow ties and Girls with pearls luncheon. This was an annual event that I hosted and I target youth of all ages.
I advertised this event by means of social media, newspaper, I done local news interviews about the event and flyers. With that, I’ve had over 60 youth to participate in the luncheon.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Iamchristophergreen
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/christopher-green-m-ed-gcdf-454b2992

Image Credits

I give credits to my family for their support during this journey.