In 2004, Dr. Julius Mullen and his wife, Natasha, started an organization called SPEAAK — Supporting Parents for the Education of African American Kids. On Sept. 14, in Blades Park, they celebrated 20 years of youth leadership, family unity and community passion at an IMPACT Family Field and Fun Day with nearly 100 people in attendance.
The couple started by inviting to their backyard parents who didn’t typically attend parent-teacher meetings because of work and other circumstances but wanted to be more involved in their children’s education. Having moved to Seaford in the early 1990s, the Mullens had gotten into youth coaching as their kids played sports and they recognized that parents needed support.
At that first meeting, “Our yard was packed with 100 people — families and children,” Dr. Mullen said. “The grown-ups talked while the children went off to play. We were blown away by the amount of engagement and positivity.”
Dr. Julius Mullen and his wife, Natasha, have served as leaders and mentors of IMPACT Delaware Inc. for 20 years. They celebrated on Sept. 14 in Blades Park at an IMPACT Family Field and Fun Day with nearly 100 people in attendance. Photo by Carol Kinsley
Among the original founders of SPEAAK were Jerry and Latrinka Lee, Terence and Desi Moore, Marcus and Tamara Mullen, Marvin Phillips, Dr. Dara Laws (Savage) and Chandra Stewart.
That grassroots effort grew into a variety of community activities such as teen summits, pool parties, skate nights, field trips, think tanks, summer BBQs, dance performances and basketball tournaments. It also expanded beyond Seaford and beyond African Americans.
A program for young girls was added, called UNIQUE. UNIQUE was designed to teach emotional intelligence skills such as social skills, self-esteem, and conflict resolution.
At the same time, a Saturday Academy for teen boys was introduced, which became MAN UP. Over three years, more than 100 young men received high quality academic support, compassionate mentoring, and character enrichment.
UNIQUE and MAN UP resulted in improved grades, decreased behavioral referrals, and increased parental involvement.
The Mullens formally brought together the two programs that evolved from SPEAAK under a non-profit organization called IMPACT Delaware Inc. They encouraged adults in the community to “be who you needed when you were young” — recognizing the increased risks of delinquency, violence, teen pregnancy, drug use and academic underachievement in local communities.
A parenting support component also was brought back, called Grown Folks Talking. GFT is used to learn from parents, share parenting tips and offer general support for families.
To date, IMPACT Delaware has served nearly 5,000 youth and families, using a diverse outreach approach including individual and group mentoring, keynotes and seminars — all school-based and community-based, both locally and nationally.
One hundred percent of engaged mentoring participants graduated from high school and demonstrated positive post high school outcomes. Even after a single year in the program, involved youth have an increase in self-esteem, self-confidence, academic achievement, community engagement and volunteerism and the ability to plan for the future.
Mullen said one graduate of the program recently sent a video of himself refueling an airplane while flying a craft over Guam. “Did you ever think a hardheaded boy from Seaford would be doing this?” he asked. Mullen’s answer: an emphatic “Yes!”
Mullen said, “Our mission is to encourage, educate and empower youth to pursue their dreams. We envision a world in which all youth are successful in life regardless of their background, demographics or experiences.”
He and his wife continue to serve as a resource when life is not going so well. “We’ve already got a relationship (with these young people). It’s a life-long thing.”
The anniversary celebration offered free food, clean music, field day activities, two bounce houses, fellowship and positive vibes.
The Mullens expressed appreciation to the founders, the board, the community and especially to donors. “Whatever we have needed, we asked and they gave — funding, physical space, transportation…” Mullen said. Graduates have become outstanding citizens in their communities, “just good people, giving back.”
Of the organization itself, he said they had purposely kept it small and focused. “We did not try to go all over the world.”
He continued, “Take a look at our website (impactleadershipde.org), come help us out.”
