DOPE INC.

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Dreams. Opportunity. Purpose. Empowerment Incorporated is a youth advocacy and empowerment organization

10/23/2026

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME SERVSAFE CERTIFIED?

If YES, DOPE Skills may have an opportunity for YOU!
We’ve teamed up with Tropical Island Spice to give young people ages 16–24 a hands-on culinary experience. Through our new 7-week program, you’ll learn the following:

✅ Food Safety & ServSafe Preparation
✅ Culinary Arts & Hands-On Experience
✅ Customer Service & Hospitality
✅ Restaurant Operations & Leadership
✅ Job Shadowing with Industry Professionals
✅ Resume Building & Career Readiness

🎓 Upon successful completion of the program, DOPE INC. will cover the cost of your ServSafe certification!

Classes Start: Monday, November 23, at 6 PM
Location: Tropical Island Spice Tropical Island Spice Restaurant | Norwalk, CT
SPACES ARE LIMITED! Don’t miss your chance to gain new skills and invest in your future.

🔗 Apply TODAY! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19uKqiEL337uewUseWvuRM5objq3bkV79uKgK6rokG1A/edit?usp=drivesdk

10/19/2026

🗳️ CT, EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY!

Your voice matters, and young people are the future!🌟We encourage youth and young adults to engage in the civic process and use their voices to help shape their communities.

Not registered yet? You still have time! Eligible voters can register and vote the same day during early voting.

🔗 Click the link in our bio to register, check your registration status, or find your voting location!

Your voice. Your future. Your vote.

Are you registered to vote?

10/06/2026

DOPE INC. is proud to partner with Embrace Psychotherapy, LLC to connect Connecticut youth and young adults with accessible mental health support.

Services are available for ages 12–25+, with HUSKY accepted, limited pro bono availability, and a reduced $30 rate for those without HUSKY once pro bono slots are filled.

📍 In-office in Norwalk + Virtual Options

Ready to get connected?
https://www.dopeincglobal.org/dope-health.html

You don’t have to figure it out alone. 💚

09/28/2026

Honestly,

Summer left without warning us so we have to reminisce on some previous retreats! 😍😍😍

Loads of memories, food & fun! Oh and let’s not mention karaoke because Queen Woody showed out…Okay Tamarrrr 🎤🤣

But in-between the TikToks, swimming, henna tattoos and vibes, the grew stronger and that’s what is alllll about! 💞

We are truly thankful for the ability to absorb the cost of our programs to make these opportunities equitable for the students we serve! 🙌🏾

Would you hang out with us??

09/27/2026

Join our Brotherhood! 👑

King Me is a FREE 7-week leadership and personal development program that empowers young men through mentorship, engaging discussions, and hands-on activities covering topics such as Identity, Manhood & Character, Workforce Development, Entrepreneurship, Mental Health & Well-being, Financial Literacy, and more.

If you’re a young man in grades 8–12 looking to grow as a leader, build confidence, and connect with a supportive brotherhood, this program is for you.

Location: Wakeman Boys & Girls Club - 595 Madison Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06604

Course Begins: Wednesday, September 30th – Wednesday, November 11th from 6:00–8:00 PM

Scan the QR code or use the link in our bio to apply

09/24/2026

We foster future leaders by focusing on confidence, leadership, and individuality. 👑

What we do is more than mentorship. We believe in family engagement, especially when our students reach important milestones. Our Crowning Ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate not only our Queens, but the families who show up to pour into their hearts, encourage them, and support them along the way. And for that, we will always find a reason to celebrate! 👑💞

In a world where some students simply “follow the leader,” we make sure our young Queens exhibit main character energy wherever they go! Our core topics are: self-love, mental health and well being, finances and investments, workforce development, entrepreneurship and much more!

If you were ever a part of one of our programs, we hope you continue to leverage DOPE INC as a resource. Once you graduate, our support doesn’t end. You can stay connected and utilize our network, mentorship, and resources as much or as little as you want!

She’s Crowned — April 2026 Cohort. Sponsored by Fairfield County’s Comm Fdn at Wakeman Boys & Girls Club

Next week, we will embrace a new cohort of , Kings. We still have a few slots available. Join our Today! Registration link is in our bio!

***Our most frequently asked question is, “how much is the program?” All of our programs are FREE unless you want to travel to Ghana!

08/10/2026

Join the Brotherhood! 👑

King Me is a 7-week leadership and personal development program that empowers young men through mentorship, engaging discussions, and hands-on activities covering topics such as Identity, Manhood & Character, Workforce Development, Entrepreneurship, Mental Health & Well-being, Financial Literacy, and more.

If you’re a young man in grades 8–12 looking to grow as a leader, build confidence, and connect with a supportive brotherhood, this program is for you.

Location: Wakeman Boys & Girls Club - 595 Madison Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06604

Course Begins: Wednesday, September 30th – Wednesday, November 11th from 6:00–8:00 PM

Scan the QR code or use the link below to apply today!

https://form.jotform.com/262175462904156

07/03/2026

Congratulations to our Founder & Executive Director, Chaquanzha Stephenson-Bamidele! 🎉

We’re proud to celebrate Chaquanzha on graduating from the Transforming Youth Justice Institute (TYJI) Tow Youth Justice Institute as a member of Cohort 10! 👏🏾

For more than a decade, Chaquanzha has been passionate about understanding the disparities within our justice system. Over the years, that passion has evolved into a commitment to addressing the root causes of youth justice involvement, particularly the impact of childhood trauma and unmet mental health needs.

While we understand that some young people will inevitably come into contact with the justice system, DOPE INC is committed to changing that trajectory whenever possible. That commitment is reflected in our Breaking Chains Project, where youth are compensated for their time as they study public policy, examine the school-to-prison pipeline, explore the War on Drugs and the 1994 Crime Bill, and develop and present mock reform legislation. We believe young people deserve a seat at the table, and that their voices, lived experiences, and ideas should be valued.

We’re incredibly proud of this accomplishment and excited to continue using the knowledge, relationships, and tools gained through TYJI to strengthen our work and create even greater impact in our communities.

A special thank you to Eva Ott Hill, Michelangelo, and the entire Tow Youth Justice Institute team for investing in leaders who are committed to transforming youth justice. Your guidance, mentorship, and dedication to this work are truly appreciated.

✨ Applications for the next TYJI cohort are now open! Please see the last photo.

📅 Deadline to Apply: Friday, July 24, 2026
🔗 https://lnkd.in/e3K4wrM9

If you’re passionate about youth advocacy, systems change, and creating better outcomes for young people, we encourage you to apply!

06/25/2026

Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that strength isn’t about suffering in silence, it’s about having someone in your corner. Every young man deserves someone who listens, challenges, and believes in him before one decision defines his future.

This week, four men were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of rapper . The youngest was just 20 years old.

While they were facing the death penalty, a former prison warden testified that because they were young, they could provide “sweat equity” through prison labor. Regardless of how you view that testimony, it’s a sobering reminder that one decision can change the course of a young man’s life forever.

Every decision has consequences, and every young man deserves someone to help him navigate life’s toughest moments before those decisions become permanent.

Through King Me and our Breaking Chains program, DOPE INC is committed to providing mentorship, brotherhood, and safe spaces where young men can build character, prioritize their mental health, and choose a different path.

Mentorship isn’t just guidance … it can be prevention. Be the mentor you once needed and encourage a young man to find one.

05/29/2026

Meet Our Week 12 Professor – Jay Kemp

We’re excited to welcome Janai “Yannae” Kemp, better known as Jay Kemp, as our Week 12 professor for the Rites of Passage Program, where he will be leading a discussion on Present-Day African American Issues.

Jay is a cultural educator, youth advocate, speaker, media personality, and community leader whose work sits at the intersection of hip hop, healing, Black identity, and social transformation.

With more than 20 years of experience mentoring youth and facilitating conversations around race, trauma, culture, media influence, and systems of oppression, Jay brings a perspective that is both deeply informed and rooted in lived experience.

He has spoken and facilitated workshops at institutions including Yale University, UConn, and Quinnipiac University, challenging audiences to think critically about the social, political, and psychological forces shaping Black communities today.

Jay is also the creator of the groundbreaking lecture “The Hip Hop Perversion,” a nationally recognized presentation examining the relationship between government, media, corporate influence, and hip hop culture. He later brought this work directly into the classroom through a Hip Hop Sociology course, helping students analyze the intersections of music, race, economics, identity, and systemic inequities.

From his work as creator of the Moving Target Podcast and Radio Show to his role as a youth leader and transformational speaker, Jay continues to empower young people to find their voice, understand their history, and envision a future beyond survival.

As we enter our final week of class before preparing for Ghana, we are honored to have Jay challenge our scholars to think critically about the issues impacting Black communities today and their role in shaping tomorrow.

🌍✈️ Week 12 of 13… Ghana is almost here!

Address

New York, NY
10027

Website

http://www.dopeincglobal.org/

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