Meet Jamal Minor | Founder and CEO | Educational Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamal Minor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamal, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Being raised in Oak Cliff taught me how to survive, but it also taught me how to exceed expectations and want more for myself. I was the inner-city child who dared to dream the impossible dream of wanting to be famous and well-known for my artistic creativity. I was a part of the step team, TAG (Talented and Gifted), debate team, oratorical contests, choir, and all kind of things. I could literally go on and on. I even worked jobs like the grocery store, McDonalds, Footaction, Habitat for Humanity and was chosen for a dance solo at the Debbie Allen Dance Institute. All of this to say, I always had a vision for myself outside of what the world around me existed as. I struggled with trying to be seen because I always felt like my ideas were too massive or just simply different than others around me and they would make me feel small. One day I woke up and said I’d never let anyone make me feel “‘minor” again because I’ve always been a big deal. No matter what hood I resided in. It wasn’t until I decided to work for Teach for America where I started my training in Southside Chicago and began my first year teaching in Liberty City, FL. I was robbed at gun point in front of the school on the first day. I’ll never forget that moment because I knew that I was choosing to be obedient to a calming over my life I had no clue would take me by staying at the school and continuing to teach. There’s been so many challenges that I’ve endured but 8 years later I can truly say that it was necessary. I was able to visit a piece of my childhood in all of the cities I’ve had the pleasure to teach in. I saw that a black man form the inner city that most people criticize on a daily is actually smart and can move data in numbers I didn’t imagine. After winning New Teacher of the Year in DC and promoted to be a Dean in Brooklyn, NY and one of the highest performing charter schools in the world, I began to study my own data and reflect on what I was bringing to each campus.

After years of rewatch, I realized that children who looked like me who come from low-income families, inner-city zip codes, and lack certain structures at home need a village through their really crucial learning stages in life. Molding Our Minors’ Literacy and Leadership is more about building personal relationships one family at a time in order to shift the narrative by providing a quality learning experience. I truly believe private one-on-one instruction, mentorship and someone who will check in with them weekly will support them moving forward. I can’t be everywhere so I made sure students will have access to high quality instructors and learning wherever they live! Virtual learning is the new experience we all should prepare for because we should no longer wait for something to be given to us. It’s clear we need to find our own resources and I’m here to provide the well.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Molding Our Minors offers youth between the ages of 8-13, in grades 3-8 an opportunity to have their own private tutor that caters to their personalized academic and social needs. We offer both in-person and virtual tutoring in English Language Arts. Although Brown vs. Board of Education was to end the legalized racial segregation in schools, children in underserved communities have been disproportionately disadvantaged to their peers due to the lack of resources provided in their homes and schools. Molding Our Minors Literacy and Leadership Youth Program was founded on the principle that every MINOR deserves access to quality education regardless of race, zip-code, or socio-economic background.

The pandemic has shown us that families need more support in their personal lives and we’re here to aid the individual parents and child’s learning needs! Due to the fast changing demands of society, and the high expectations of the 21st century student (Gen Z) to be critical thinkers, we were pushed to purpose in building a program to increase their cognitive development, enhance interpersonal skills, and build confidence while renewing a love for learning both academically and socially.

1. It was not easy getting here and the challenges of me getting here started in my mind before it existed in the physical realm. I was always surrounded by a lot of love growing up but would choose to focus on the moments and people who affected me in the most negative way. I began to battle a life of depression and couldn’t get past how people viewed. I cared too much about what I didn’t have and never gave enough credit to what I do have to offer. After meeting all of my past students, they were able to show me the true me. My job is to MOLD the minors because I truly believe they already have in it them just as I do. It just took me longer to get there because I didn’t have the support. The biggest lesson is that I was the best support I could have ever found in myself. Once I realized my own power, I figured out a way to help others who look like me unleash theirs too. Takes hard work, dedication, grit and belief.

This is for all children in the world that ever felt like they were too small or too minor too do whatever it is true to them in their hearts. I want to help mold them until they get it out into the universe in a MAJOR way! Academically and socially. Respectfully.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc at Howard University, Xi Chapter and my line brother just came to visit me this past weekend.

They booked their hotels in the heart of Downtown and we met at my place in Design District. Their friend was having an Adult Prom and they immediately went shopping at Northpark Center for their finishing touches. We took a swim at my building looking over the skyline and had food and drinks at The Henry. We also went to Rokwood for a night of fun and KISS for a day party as well.

I don’t go out much because I’m always working on something, but when I do I have the best time with the best people. Dallas can be a vibe if you go to the right spots!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout Isaac with @ilift_np ! His instagram is @ilift_ike. He’s the manger or Dr. Rose who does everyone’s veneers in Dallas and all over. He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves for the work he does everyday behind the scenes.

Website: moldingourminors.com

Instagram: @moldingourminors @jamalminorofficial

Twitter: @MoldingMinors

Facebook: Facebook.com/MoldingOurMinors