We were lucky to catch up with Vincent Spriggs II recently and have shared our conversation below.

Vincent, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

So G.A.M.E. Changers Movement is a non-profit. What I do falls under the umbrella of a social entrepreneur.

What I do with the G.A.M.E. Changers Movement is connected with my God given purpose and experiences as a teenager. I always felt like I would do something big and that I would need to give God the Glory. As a teenager, I experienced first hand the positive impact of mentorship on my life. My experience in young soldiers mentorship program at the Soul Factory Church and stand up men that took time out to mentor me really changed the trajectory of my life. I am naturally introverted and shy. But that did not stop me from visualizing myself making a difference mentoring and motivating the youth. It took me a while to grow out of my comfort zone of being silent. But my life journey gave me no choice but to come out of my shell. Working in sells in property management, social work, and then becoming a teacher helped me overcome my shyness to begin to take steps to be what I would visualize as a child. I begin teaching at a charter school in south memphis called Veritas College Prep in 2013. In 2015, I chose to begin working at a HS called Manassas HS in North Memphis. A lot of people told me the kids were bad and gave me reasons why I should not teach their. But that is what lead me to manassas. When I begin working their I quickly saw the need for young men to have positive male role models and mentors. It was common for the gangs to be recruiting kids more then the churches and for young men to make poor decisions. I knew it was time to make a difference. Coincidentally the principal at that time called me to his office and begin telling me about his young men’s mentor group he started but was unable to continue. I told him that it was already on my heart to start a mentorship group and that I would call it G.A.M.E. Changers Movement. From 2015 to present I have been committed to serving young men through mentorship, leadership development and the game of chess. Over the course of 10 years we have put on a lot of community events, community organized around issues in the community, and provided programming that many youth can access from one on one mentorship, peer to peer mentorship, chess tournaments, and community service in our community.

What excites me the most about what I’m doing is changing the mindset and trajectory’s of young men I come in contact with and the fact that I believe that I am doing what God wants me to do. G.A.M.E. Changers Movement is not just another non-profit but a movement.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am someone that is motivated by purpose, mission, and vision and not money alone. I love to help people and to help youth maximize their full potential. When the youth win I feel like I win. I’m proud of young men I’ve mentored return to be mentors and to help continue the mission of the G.A.M.E. Changers Movement. I’m also motivated by legacy and how the seeds I plant today will provide shade in the future for someone else. I want the leadership that I have and the work that I do to live on through the same people I serve. I love my family. I have a wife and two kids that I love dearly. My wife is a co-founder of G.A.M.E. Changers Movement. I love serving with my family.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I started G.A.M.E. Changers Movement, I did it in a way that if no one gave a dime or volunteered I would be able to still do it. I’ve come to learn that’s not sustainable for a vision that is constantly expanding and growing. So I am unlearning being an island unto myself and practicing partnerships and collaborations within the programming that I’m offering the youth in the city. I am know that my vision is bigger then myself. So as I scale up I’m learning to ask for help and even donations. I’m learning that people will give and want to give to help the vision and work keep going.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

One of my favorite people to listen to is the late Dr. Myles Munroe. I love to read his books and listen to his videos because he talks a lot about living out your purpose, mission, and vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gamechangersmovement.net
• Instagram: gamechangersmovement
• Facebook: Vincent Spriggs II
• Linkedin: Vincent Spriggs II
• Youtube: G.A.M.E. Changers Movement