Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Scruggs. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

My hope is that my legacy will be one of community service and community impact. I want the youth and families of my community to be successful an always maximize their potential. My hope is that my legacy of change will inspire my mentees and youth to make a greater impact into other lives. If I can just help somebody, then my living shall not be in vain.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Helping people is what I live for. 13 years ago, I left a job in project management for a hospital and decided to teach school. One of my closets friends, Ramone Lloyd suggested to his manager at the school district that I should become a teacher. Great decision because I have always enjoyed mentoring and helping the youth in our community. I came up with a daily mantra, “I AM NUMBER ONE” that I made my students recite everyday. That motto took my former students and mentees to their next level of greatness. I began doing motivational speaking my passion for my students’ and mentees success garnered me national attention from Good Morning America, CNN, CBS, Ellen DeGeneres, Channel One News and more. I have been been recognized as 100 influential people of Memphis, Making Headline News Man of the Year, Outstanding Mentoring Hero, 40 under 40 Urban Professionals, ESPN Academy and many more.

Dealing with youth, there are so many problems that Mentors are faced with. It truly takes a village to help our youth. As a product of Memphis City Schools, I spent countless hours with dedicated and caring educators and mentors who allowed my imagination to soar, and my gifts to flourish and ultimately, influenced my career path. mentoring and working in education allowed me to move around in the educational non profit sector. For the past 4 years, I’ve been working at AGAPE Child and Family Services where I serve as the SITE Coordinator over the Whitehaven District continuing my passion by helping families come out of poverty.

Several things make proud: seeing the clients I serve, make strides for a better life ad also seeing my former students and mentees give back to the community. It’s a great feeling when a former student see you out in the streets and they remind you of how you changed their life. For the past 15 years, my mentees and former students volunteer with me several times out of the year feeding the less fortunate and providing resources to the community youths. My mentor, Dr. Ken Brown always taught me that success is truly measured by the lives you touch. I strive everyday to make a difference in the world around me.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Growing up in the inner city and seeing poverty everyday made me fight for others. If there is no struggle, there is no victory! Knowing that I made it out after having to struggle, gives me the courage to inspire others that if I can do it, you can to.

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

What has helped me build a reputation within my market is always staying active and engaged in community work. It makes a difference when your community see your consistent involvement with community service projects. Consistency is the key to anything you are doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: agapemeanslove.org
• Instagram: michaelscruggs3
• Facebook: Michael Scruggs
• Linkedin: michaelscruggs
• Twitter: mascruggs3
• Youtube: Michael Scruggs “I AM NUMBER ONE”

Image Credits
Alex Pearson Photography