Jahmal Cole is the founder of My Block, My Hood, My City, a nonprofit that works to help under-resourced youth in Chicago explore and grow.
Having grown up in the same communities he now serves, Cole prides himself in his work. His mission is to teach troubled youth about their opportunities and show them everything they could possibly become.
Cole credits Wayne State College with making him the man he is today.
Cole’s current work involves running his nonprofit organization. Through mentorship and exposure-based field trips, he introduces young people to opportunities outside of their blocks at college campuses, museums, businesses, and even just other neighborhoods.
Each month, Cole and his team of 15 work with more than 150 kids. He has made it his life’s mission to help these kids realize the opportunities of the world. He firmly believes the exposure his team gives these kids has the ability to protect the future of each one.
Cole truly understood the importance of exposure to other parts of the world after he made the choice to move to WSC. If Cole hadn’t forced himself out of the city, his life would be very different.
“Exposure to me is violence prevention,” Cole said. “They exposed me to a lot, and Wayne State made me the man I am today, and I’m serious about that.”
Cole had always wanted to go to college, but not everyone thought it was possible. His path to higher education began with frustration.
When searching for a college, Cole’s school guidance counselor told him that he should go into the military or find a trade school. However, he had bigger dreams. Incredibly unsatisfied with that conversation, he tore a random page out of a book full of colleges on the counselor’s desk when he was left alone in the room.
After crumpling up and stashing the paper, he left the office angry and ready to make his own choices. When he later opened the paper, the only school on it was Wayne State College. Knowing nothing about Wayne and nothing about Nebraska, Cole prepared himself to make the biggest step of his life.
Cole reflects on his anger with the advice he was given. He later realized that this very moment was one of the major reasons he ended up where he is today.
When Cole arrived at Wayne State College, he was a first-generation student with no idea how to be a college student. A few short months into the semester, he had a 1.7 GPA and no books.
“I don’t even know what first gen means. I just know I was the first kid out of my school to go to college,” Cole said.
After having to explain his grades to his basketball coach, Rico Burkett, he was pushed to do better in classes. Burkett knew that Jahmal needed to focus on his grades, but he also needed to play as an outlet.
“A lot of Jahmal’s growth wasn’t in the basketball program,” Burkett said.
Burkett was able to find him a scholarship of $500 to be able to pay for his textbooks. Burkett became one of Cole’s greatest mentors, leaving him with messages he still believes and considers while teaching kids with his nonprofit.
“I set out as a coach to try to impact lives …that’s the reward,” Burkett said.
After having purchased books, he became friends with a girl on campus who taught him how to read and study them. By the end of the semester, he had raised his GPA all the way to a 3.5. He was not only passing all his classes but beginning to take pride in his schoolwork.
“Even when you start to find success, you have to find and apply those goals,” Burkett said.
When Cole first enrolled at WSC he had declared a major in business. However, he couldn’t find anything he wanted to do with a business degree. He knew that his passions were in other places, in helping people.
Feeling lost, Cole set up a meeting with one of the chairs of the communications department, Deb Whitt. She would become another strong influence in Cole’s life.
Cole told Whitt that he wanted to be a motivational speaker. He had known this ever since he saw the kids in jail in his city that were so much like him.
“It was in the jail where I realized as a volunteer that I realized I needed to help them,” Cole said. “I was so close to being them.”
Seeing his drive and potential, Whitt knew Cole was capable of becoming so much more than he imagined. After a short conversation with Whitt, Cole changed his major and joined the communications department.
“After we started talking, he started to smile,” Whitt said.
“The love for her and not wanting to let her down made me try harder,” Cole said.
Another strong influence in Cole’s life was Deb Whitt’s husband, Ron Whitt, another member of the WSC communications department. Ron helped Cole piece together his education and build his dedication.
Cole recalled Ron Whitt telling him, “You’re gonna be a leader, so you will not be late.”
When Cole first met Ron Whitt, he was selling rap CDs door to door on campus.
“Theres no way I’d be a business owner if it weren’t for Ron Whitt,” Cole said.
Deb and Ron Whitt gave him confidence and direction. Coach Burkett, challenged him relentlessly. With these people, Cole found his support system. Through their mentorship, Cole finished his education knowing how he was going to help people.
After graduation, Cole was excited to move back to Chicago. He had always known he wanted to be able to go back to his home city and take care of others growing up the way he did. To this day, he has dedicated his work to making the lives of young students better.
Inspired by trips Burkett once took him on for basketball, he launched a similar program for youth in Chicago. He’s spoken on college campuses, ran for Congress, and written books, but he always circles back to Wayne.
“I can’t share my story without talking about Wayne, Nebraska,” Cole often says. “It’s where it all started.”
Jahmal had grown more in his time at WSC than he had anywhere else. He plans to return to campus to speak to students about his experiences and inspire them for their future.
“The culture in Wayne is not just about education, they really wrap themselves around the students… I’m a product of that love. I’m a product, and I needed that,” Cole said.
Jahmal Cole credits WSC with not only his education but also the development of his character. He believes that Wayne, America is the best thing to ever happen to him.
Jahmal’s story began in Chicago, where he was one of the very same underprivileged youth he works with today.
“Wherever he goes there’s an impact, a positive impact,” Deb Whitt said.
Cole wants young people to know they don’t need to be what others see them as. He knows that they just need someone to care.
WSC and the people that live here did that for him. And now, through every museum visit, college tour, and mentoring session, Jahmal Cole is doing the same for others. His story started in Wayne, and its impact is still reflected in his work today.
