Meet Kendrick Glover | Father, Executive Director, Educator, Community Activist, Life Long Learner

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

Hi Kendrick, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting GloverEmpowerMentoring-GEM was no easy feat. It was actually one of the toughest things I’ve done in my adult life. When I started GEM back in 2014, is wasn’t for money( because we all know non-profit is not a money grab), it was for the love and care I had for my community and the youth and young adults that made it up. During the inception of GEM, youth violence was at an all time high in King County Washington, especially in the City of Kent. Young people didn’t feel protected or welcomed. I knew this because I was a high school counselor at the time, and these where the conversation begin held daily on campus and in my office. Students looking for way to vent and simply to be heard. This is the space I created and provided, a space of reflection and healing. So it was my passion meeting my purpose that started GEM and still is what continues to maintain that sustainability to this day.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My passion and purpose have always been education, youth and young adults. I strongly believe in the words of my mentor, “I have to see me, to be me”, this is why I led. I received my official start in mentoring with the Police Activities League (PAL) in 2009 which is a national organization that focus on youth community involvement through mentoring. I’ve worked in the field of politics as an Intern for King County Councilman Larry Gossett of District 2, as well for King County Drug Diversion Court as a Wraparound Coordinator. I’ve served as a school counselor at Kent Meridian High School in Kent Washington for three academic school years, and as a Program Manager for the Puget Sound College and Career Network at Puget Sound Educational Service District, in where the work focused on promoting first generational and low-income students access to college and career. My passion in education, lead me to also served as an educator working as an adjunct faculty member at City University of Seattle in the Albert School of Education. I’m also an active youth and young adult advocate involved in King County wide initiatives including the Juvenile Justice Equity Steering Committee which is appointed by the King County Executive.
I currently hold an undergraduate degree from Seattle University in Criminal Justice, Master’s degree in Education with a Counseling Certificate from City University of Seattle, and in process of working on a Ph.D. in Education Leadership with a Concentration in Organizational Leadership.
All previously held positions have culminated me for my current role with GEM. GEM is a unique mentoring program serving over 250 youth and youth adults ages 12 to 24 yearly addressing dropout prevention/intervention symptoms that prevent youth and young adults from doing what is right for the well-being of self and others. Services include one-on-one and group mentoring and Case Management , outside referral services where needed and weekly activities that benefit youth and young adults’ daily lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Whenever I have family or friends visit the area they also want to see the GEM Community Center first. They want to tour the space and see what exactly I be raving about on social media and during phone calls. After a full day of this, then the tour starts, we would hit up downtown Seattle, Space Nettle, The Wheel, Waterfront and of course get crab and chowder. The next day, we would chill at home and food would be made to kinda relax and take it the two days before. The next day would be filled with shopping at the various outlets, followed by dinner somewhere that includes live music. Finally we would;d hit up the night life, and dance the night away.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2006 was very eye opening. Seeing the many ethnicities and cultures was a “aww” moment for me coming from Mississippi. See I transferred from Thee Jackson State University for a fresh start at Seattle University. It was there I met my first true mentor, Larry Evans. I didn’t know this at the time we met, but I would later come to find out who Larry Evans called a mentor, which would also become one of mine. The honorable Larry Gossett of District 2 in King County WA. LG from the CD was just as impressed with me as I was with him when we first meet. So much so, that he offered me a paid internship in his office. Larry Gossett is to King County what Dr. King, Malcom X, and other activist was and is to their immediate communities. LE and LG will also get credit in my work and the things I’ve accomplished, I’m forever grateful.

Website: www.gemwa.org

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