Pouring Out Success| Marcus Manning
Pouring out Success: A way of life
Raised by a single mom in Tallahassee, Florida, Marcus Manning started Pouring Out Success Inc with his best friend to provide a safe and supportive environment to the youth in his community. A place where they can receive the social, emotional, and academic support they need to succeed in life.
Pouring Out Success provides mentorship to the youth and teaches them financial literacy to ensure their long-term success. The program also provides re-entry guidance, giving formerly incarcerated people a roadmap to successfully re-integrate back into the community. The non-profit came forth from Marcus’ personal experience, first mentoring his siblings, then nieces and nephews, and volunteering with the Church and community to provide support and guidance wherever needed. As a self-made, college-educated man, Marcus has always been a role model, mentor, community advocate, and leader. With the inception of Pouring Out Success, he is able to reach out to even more youth in his community, shaping their lives and setting them up for success.
What inspired you to begin this project?
“Being raised by a single mom and being the eldest of four siblings. Coming from a small town, we didn’t have much growing up. Had friends who went to camps and had opportunities to be mentored; I always wanted to experience that as well, but we couldn’t afford it. Camps put more eyes on children and more support that they might not get from other places. So that always stayed with me. I am the first one from my family to go to a university (FAMU). So I was able to help my siblings go to the camps that I was not able to. My sister got her master’s degree, and my brother got his bachelor’s degree. My siblings tell me how much they appreciated my support and guidance. So I wanted to do that for others as well. It was always within me, and now I am just putting it all together with this non-profit. That is where it started; to do something for my siblings, and now I am just plugging all the pieces together. We are here, we aren’t going anywhere!”
Why is this important to you?
“It is bigger than me. When they tell you how much they appreciate you – it is bigger than me. I appreciate them – they already pay me back by utilizing the resources I give them and taking their life to the next level – raising their families like my siblings have. That is the best feeling in the world, to be able to see the results. And I know how it feels not to have that father figure, and it is a very big deal to me to provide that to the community. It is important for them to hear from someone who is not their parents. And to be a role model and show them that it is possible.”
It truly takes a village - Marcus works with his family, friends, the Church, and other community organizations to support the youth in his community. His sister, who works for the juvenile justice system, refers kids who want to continue their education and need support to Marcus. Marcus is now partnering with Temple Program, a program set up for kids who dropped out of school and want to get receive their GED, to reach even more youth. He is looking forward to partnering with like-minded people and organizations, like Temple Program and Let’s Choose Love, to expand nationally and even globally, building connections and keep pouring out success.
Written by Khatira Darvesh
