We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jared Fields. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jared below.

Jared, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

When I was a youth, I lost my father at the age of 10 to a fatal car accident. By being so young, I had no clue about what to expect or do. Luckily, I was blessed to have family members and close family friends who stepped in and chose to be a father figure in my life. Although I am grateful for their sacrifice to help raise me, I felt bad because I knew other young men didn’t have the same support system that I had at my disposal. With that guidance growing up, I was able to grow into the FAMU Graduate and Metro Atlanta Community Leader that I am today. I want to do my part in society and provide other children with the support that is needed in our community. My childhood experiences inspired me to create a program for the children that were like me. I developed a nonprofit called iHelp to assist families with getting their youth involved in extracurricular activities. This program is the story behind my mission. Therefore, I am continuing to pursue my passion for public service by being the Chairman of the Mirror 100 Mentor Program for the 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta. M.I.R.R.O.R. 100 is a program for the educational and occupational guidance of youth. The program was established to create a holistic youth development for disenfranchised youth from various home environments. The concept of the Male Initiative for Recruitment, Reward & Overall Retention (M.I.R.R.O.R.) 100 program was born out of necessity to addresses the various developmental needs of the program participants.

Jared, 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?

Jared C. Fields is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), originally from Riviera Beach, Florida. Throughout his life and college career, he has always shown an interest in community service and political activities.

Serving in the community has been embedded in his soul since middle school when he was working on election campaigns for the mayor of his hometown. His desire and love of being a public servant continued to grow from that point as he marched with the late great comedian and activist Dick Gregory to address institutional racism. From that point on, he knew that service was his calling.

Jared graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in economics from FAMU. He brings years of leadership experience from professional, social, and civic organizations including The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, National Forum for Black Public Administrators and served as the Immediate Past President of the Emerging 100 of the 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta. Jared also possesses a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Arizona Global Campus. Jared currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia where he works in IT Procurement. He is a supply chain professional, public servant, public speaker, and passionate mental health advocate. Under the Honorable Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration, Jared was recognized as one of the top employees in the Department of Public Works for the City of Atlanta. Lastly, Jared was recognized as one of the top public servants in the Metro Atlanta Area by the Young Government Leaders of Atlanta and was one of the recipients of their 40 under 40 awards. Jared currently serves as the chairman of the Mirror 100 Mentor Program for the 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta. As the program chair, he is committed to guiding youth to become the best version of themselves to be successful in life and to make an impact in society.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

As I worked tirelessly for several professional and civic organizations, I was able to establish a network and a following of fellow public servants and community supporters. I utilized social media to display the work that I was doing in the community. As I progressed over the years, I was elected to board level positions which allowed me to increase awareness of my mission. In order to build your reputation as a public servant you must be effective, efficient, and consistent. You must continue to grow your network and influence people to support and join your efforts to uplift the community. Being a public servant is a selfless task so you must be passionate and self-motivated to make an impact.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

To manage a team, you must lead by example. Being a true leader requires you to guide your followers whether if it is volunteering or at work. You must develop a relationship with your team so they can view you as a partner. When the partnership is established, they will go above and beyond to help achieve the planned goals. You must show them that you are willing to work beside them and not just give out orders and instructions. As a leader you must have Honesty, Integrity, and Humility. Possessing these characteristics allows people to view you as a partner and not as a dictator. You must hold your team and yourself accountable. This shows your followers that you are reliable and responsible enough to guide them. Lastly, to have a successful team, you must empower them and be a good listener. This will show your team that you care about their thoughts and believe in their capabilities. With all these components, this is how you manage a team and maintain a high morale .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://100southmetro.org/mirror-100/
• Instagram: mirror100_southmetro100
• Youtube: Emerging 100 South Metro Atlanta