Black Fire: The Unfinished Story of a Port City NC Black Film Festival

A new Young Mogul Inspirational Lesson went live in March. My new song a docu-video, “Black Fire: The Unfinished Story of a Port City” was released March 26th as a selection for the North Carolina Black film festival. The film has also been submitted to the Cucalorus Film Festival that may run November 2022.

Through the video we explore lessons of the past to build a future where all kids and adults worked together to create future leaders and entrepreneurs. The film and event were an absolute success and as a result we were asked to submit for a future film festival! Stay tuned for more about this inspiring movement and how your school, church, or event could screen the film or book a performance.
I also had a film selected to the Black film festival that has also been submitted to the Cucalorus Film Festival that may run this November. It is the Music video for the song “Black Fire: The Unfinished Story of a Port City”. View the official Trailer on Youtube below.

Ci Kids where’s the Train!

What a blast!! March 19th we launched a new Adventures of Lucas and Alyci Youtube Episode and an event for kids and families teaching them about the City of Wilmington North Carolina’s new Rail-realignment effort. The animated adventure starts when Lucas and his team explore the wonderful Town of Cool Ideas, the different things trains carry, and how to be safe around trains. The purpose of the character animation is to teach kids about technology and to stop for trains.

Kids from all over enjoyed a day of building their own adventure using trains and tools we provided them to design their own towns and railways. The goal for each student was to make their train railways safe while carrying important supplies where they needed to go. At the event students were given items, and material for those in the audience to take home that will give more detail about All Your Cool Ideas Kids Club workbooks and online course.

It is no secret that I have spent some of my most valuable time working to help young men build better lives. I have seen kids go from aimless, unsure boys to fully mature scholars and men. Through the years one thing that I have noticed is that there is always a gift present in every young man but not always was a fire or a drive to use it to find out its purpose in their lives. It never ceases to puzzle me how much adults, particularly teachers and parents forget or are unaware of how important it is to recognize the difference in the generations. Kid’s, specifically young men, especially as late adolescents are rarely goal oriented or have a clearly defined path. That goes for professionally or academically.

Many young men spend years changing college majors (if they go to college), lost on their parent’s couch, gaming and are never really 120% sold on the path they are on. I am from the 80’s generation where while many times we were still lost at 19, 20, and 21 we eventually figured it out because there were so many driven youngsters around us and honestly because we didn’t feel we had as many options or as much time. Well, today things have changed quite a bit as YouTube, gaming, vlog, and social media stars have given new life to the dangerous and idle mind of young boys yet to figure out the answer to the question “What do you want to do when you grow up?”

Well as a Marvel comic fanatic I have begun to explore this thought. What if Thanos were an American teenager? I know you did not begin this article expecting me to be discussing comic book characters and legacy but go with me for a brief second. What if Thanos, the one being in the Marvel Comic Universe that had a singular life focus and purpose of bringing the universe into balance by whatever means he could, was just a pimply faced kid? How would his behavior drive and attitude have been different? Would he be as driven at such a young age?

Think about it. He had a goal, but to reach it there were multiple steps had to take prior to make it happen. First, getting a team to help him travel the universe in search of the Infinity Stones. Secondly, he had to get someone to produce a Gauntlet or glove that would allow him to harness the power of the stones when he found them. And lastly, he wanted to achieve this goal so bad that he was bravely willing to literally fight whoever it took to achieve it. Yes. Thanos was supposed to be a bad guy and was truly evil but you had to appreciate his planning and drive to achieve what he believed in and his refusal to be dissuaded from that purpose.

Just like you may want that son of yours to take the initiative to grab a suit or learn to tie a necktie to chase the job interview, would Thanos have been so charged to relentlessly prepare and pursue the Infinity stones to accomplish his goal if he was a teenager? Probably not. he may have started with one…got sidetracked to look for something else. Maybe he came back a year later once he received financial aid to help travel to other planets. The point is we all find our way differently.

So, the lesson is, patience may be needed in order to allow these youngsters time to figure it out. And as long as they are moving toward a goal maybe we should all be a little more patient with how long it takes for them to get there. Every path is different. And while it may be hard to hear even for a guy like me who has 2 very young boys of his own that will one day be great young teenage men, we all have to support where we can, teach where we can, and pray they make the right choices.

If you have ever worked to see something happen then you have had setbacks!

Setbacks are a part of anyone’s journey to succeed. Well, I had a few as I worked to help spread the message of All Your Cool Ideas in a contest sponsored by an awesome company called Genesis Block and the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.

With a host of other phenomenal businesses, I was challenged to pitch what we do for kids. Honored to just be there, it was a complete shock to me that through all of the setbacks and challenges even right up to the time I pitched…I won!

Not only was I blessed to be selected but I was awarded this $2,500 check.

Not many of us have gone through 2020 without having to make alterations.  Alterations to the way we travel, do business, eat, or even speak. 

From Covid-19 to protests…this time last year I had no idea that making all kids feel special would be even more important one year later. As we all argue about whether people should care about each other and look beyond skin color or fight for their right to jog in their own neighborhood we must try to experience the world as others do. 

I think what we are missing is the extra! The extra steps someone else must take when simply applying for a job. The extra steps I might have to take when shopping, so you have assured me, and my kids are paying customers.  The extra steps I might have to take to make you feel safe as I walk into work. 

Well we are starting another year. A part of what we do is help young men reach the true measure of their ability.  To assist us with doing this with our target population we are asking for your help.  On February 8th at 6 TekMountain the Young Mogul Development Group will be hosting a fundraiser.

If you decide to help us, please contact us at

Last night I was inspired more than I have been in years.  What I witnessed last night has had me asking myself the question all night, “How long will you believe?” Some of you may already know the story but last night 10-year minor league basketball player Andre Ingram (32yrs old) played his first NBA game after being called up to join the Los Angeles Lakers this week.

Andre received the announcement during what he thought would be an exit interview from his minor league team.  However, he knew something was up when he noticed Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka (Lakers General Manager) had showed up.  Each of them, as well as Lakers Coach Luke Walton, were all smiles as they congratulated him on being rewarded for 10 years of sacrifice.