10/08/2026
Faction Urban Outreach and Derek LeRon Bishop are once again in the right room!!! PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS
We are thrilled to celebrate Derek Bishop as the 2026 Pillar Awards: Fight Night recipient of the Mentor of the Year Award!
Derek LeRon Bishop is a community advocate, mentor, youth coach, facilitator, and founder of Faction Urban Outreach, established in June 2025. Faction derives its name from two words: Faith and Action. Its purpose is to help shine light in life’s darkest moments, with the long-term goal of encouraging others to become “Faith’s Deliberate Action.”
Derek’s commitment to community service is rooted in personal experience, growth, and a desire to help others make positive decisions. He has dedicated himself to working with young people and adults through mentorship, conflict resolution, education, sports, and open dialogue. His work focuses particularly on helping youth navigate violence, peer pressure, conflict, gang involvement, incarceration, and other challenges that can negatively affect their futures.
Derek believes meaningful change begins with communication, accountability, discipline, self-love, empathy, and the ability to recognize one’s own potential. His mentoring philosophy emphasizes positive thoughts, positive actions, and positive words as tools for creating lasting change.
Since beginning his youth-focused work in 2024, Derek has also served as an assistant basketball coach at Fairplain Middle School, using athletics to encourage teamwork, discipline, character development, and personal growth. He has participated in community initiatives and helped facilitate Peace Day on June 5, 2025, while building relationships with organizations and community leaders committed to positive change.
Derek holds a diploma from Clay High School in South Bend, Indiana, and completed coursework in Business Administration at Ivy Tech Community College. He has earned certificates in Digital Literacy, Employment Readiness, Community Leadership, Financial Survival, Victim’s Awareness, and other areas of personal and community development.
Through Faction Urban Outreach, Derek continues working toward a future where faith becomes action, challenges become opportunities for growth, and individuals are empowered to become positive influences within their communities.
Join us at Four Winds Casinos in South Bend as we celebrate Derek and his drive to show up for the youth and community.
🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://presentpillars.networkforgood.com/events/103833-the-2026-pillar-awards-fight-night
