Kind Mentoring | Youth Empowerment, Education & Life Skills: guest Xavier Smith

October 1, 2025

By Lana Reid | October 1, 2025

As part of the Black Men Matter series, Lana Reid speaks with Xavier Smith—Intervention Specialist and founder of Kind Mentoring. Smith’s journey from studying Criminal Justice at Morris College to creating a youth mentoring organization highlights the transformative power of guidance, education, and community support. His mission demonstrates how mentorship and intervention programs can change lives, promote positive choices, and create safer schools and stronger communities.

About Xavier Smith & Kind Mentoring

Xavier Smith began his career path by studying Criminal Justice at Morris College. His passion for youth empowerment led him to serve as an Intervention Specialist before founding Kind Mentoring, a program designed to guide young people toward brighter futures.

At its core, Kind Mentoring addresses the challenges facing today’s youth by blending mentorship, academic support, career readiness, life skills training, and specialized programming into a holistic framework of empowerment.

Core Services Offered by Kind Mentoring

Mentorship

One-on-one mentoring
Group mentoring
Peer mentoring

Academic Support

Academic coaching
Tutoring
Career services

Career Readiness

Job shadowing opportunities
Resume building & interview skills training
Entrepreneurship training

Life Skills Training

Personal development
Financial literacy
Health & wellness
Innovation skills

Specialized Programming

Gender-specific assistance
Culturally relevant approaches
Preventative age-appropriate activities

Together, these services build pathways for long-term success, encouraging resilience and helping young people make positive, life-changing choices.

Why Mentorship Matters

Smith emphasizes that mentorship is not just about guidance—it’s about creating a support system that validates young people’s potential, equips them with essential skills, and ensures they are ready to thrive academically, socially, and professionally.

Learn More About Xavier Smith & Kind Mentoring

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“The Male Perspective” is hosted by Lana Reid, the founder of Conversations in Color, a nonprofit 501(c)3 grassroots organization dedicated to providing uplifting and community building spaces of dialogue for Black voices.

Conversations in Color’s Current Initiatives:

THE MALE PERSPECTIVE: The purpose of “The Male Perspective” is to dispel stereotypes and increase awareness of the experiences of Black men through open discussions, thought-provoking interviews, and sharing personal experiences that serve as a platform to highlight the diversity and depth of the Black male experience.
SISTAS REBUILDING SISTERHOOD: “Sistas Rebuilding Sisterhood,” is an intergenerational group of Black women who come together for relaxed and non-judgmental gatherings to exchange ideas, experiences and collaborate in a collective effort to improve the quality of sisterhood interactions in our day to day lives.
TAPESTRY OF BLACK VOICES AWARDS: The “Tapestry of Black Voices Awards” honors our local communities and showcases the incredible creativity and voices of Black communities throughout the United States.

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