The GDT Foundation

04/05/2026

Planning for Year 7 of THOROUGHBRED: The Black Derby is officially underway. Different. Deeper. More intentional. Aligned.

Every year we ask ourselves how we can go higher, how can we serve better, how can we create something that truly moves people and supports the work of the The GDT Foundation in a real way. And this year, we’re grounding it in this:

Every time we get the chance, we want to give my best. Not halfway. Not when it’s convenient. Our best. We want to be obedient to the vision God has placed in us, even when it stretches us. We want to build something real. Something felt. Something that leaves impact long after the music stops.

Because this is bigger than a party.
It’s purpose. It’s people. It’s healing. It’s legacy.

Year 7, we’re locked in.
And we’re giving God everything we’ve got.

02/28/2026

Tomorrow, The GDT Foundation Recalibration Retreat officially begins.

What started as a burden on my heart is now a living, breathing reality. A vision written down. Prayed over. Funded. Organized. Protected. And now… realized.

There is something powerful about honoring your word. Not just the promises you make publicly, but the quiet commitments you make to yourself and to God. I said we would create safe spaces for people to pause, to breathe, to heal. I said we would take mental health seriously. I said we would do more than post. And tomorrow, we do exactly that.

This retreat is proof that when you care about people beyond what they can offer you, things move. When you build something rooted in service and not ego, provision shows up. When you stay consistent, even in grief, even in exhaustion, even when the vision feels heavy, purpose wins.

The GDT Foundation was never about optics. It has always been about impact. About creating room for people to recalibrate when life has pulled them in every direction. About making sure someone knows they are seen, supported, and not alone.

A dream realized is here. And it did not happen because of hype. It happened because of discipline, faith, community, and the decision to keep my word.

Tomorrow, we gather. We breathe. We reset.

And I am DEEPLY grateful.

With Love,

02/25/2026

This weekend, The GDT Foundation will host our inaugural Mental Health Recalibration Retreat, and I want to take a moment to say thank you.

I am genuinely grateful to everyone who supported this vision through The Black Derby, Giving Tuesday, and on event day. Because of you, this work moved from an idea to something real that will impact real people.

A special thank you to Tamara L. Bates for sponsoring breakfast (catered by Black Swan Catering Company) and to Olive Garden Little Rock for sponsoring lunch. Your support helps make sure our participants are cared for in every way.

This weekend is about honoring mental health through honest reflection and real healing. Thank you to every partner, sponsor, and supporter who made this possible.

Jrock Gotti Mcfadden your legacy lives on…

01/09/2026

A little over a month from now, something we’ve been sitting with, praying over, and building with real care finally comes to life.

On February 28th in Little Rock, we’ll host the very first Recalibration Retreat. It’s for people who give a lot, hold a lot, and do not always make space to tend to themselves. It’s for slowing down, being honest about where you are, and taking care of what you usually put last.

This isn’t a conference or a program. It’s a chance to slow your pace, catch your breath, feel supported, and leave a little lighter than you came.

To the 15 who will be part of this experience, this was created with you in mind.

Little Rock. February 28, 2026. See you soon!

12/02/2025

It’s Givng Tuesday. Support our mission

By GDT Foundation

11/17/2025

Applications are officially open for The Recalibration Retreat: Unburdened.

This experience is built for anyone ready to release, refocus and reconnect with themselves in a safe and intentional space. The GDT Foundation designed this retreat to support real healing and real clarity.

Participants will engage in guided meditation for focus, emotional release in a protected environment, community support, and health affirmations with visualization practices. It is a space to breathe again, to lighten what you’ve been carrying and to pour back into your mind and spirit.

Retreat takes place February 2026.

If you or someone you know could benefit from this experience, the application is now live.

Register here: Applications are officially open for The Recalibration Retreat: Unburdened.

This experience is built for anyone ready to release, refocus and reconnect with themselves in a safe and intentional space. The GDT Foundation designed this retreat to support real healing and real clarity.

Participants will engage in guided meditation for focus, emotional release in a protected environment, community support, and health affirmations with visualization practices. It is a space to breathe again, to lighten what you’ve been carrying and to pour back into your mind and spirit.

Retreat takes place February 2026.

If you or someone you know could benefit from this experience, the application is now live.

Registration Info link is in bio

08/31/2025

Fall Launch: Creators Academy Workshop Series

Excited to announce that our founder is helping kick off the Fall Creators Academy Workshop Series with a powerful conversation you don’t want to miss:
The Mask We Wear: The Cost of Performance Culture on Black Men and Their Mental Health.

Presented by Studio 62 in collaboration with The 62 Initiative, this FREE session features Gerald D. Thomas of the GDT Foundation. Gerald will explore how performance culture pushes Black men to suppress emotions, constantly prove their worth, and the urgent need for safe spaces that foster authenticity, healing, and well-being.

📅 Thursday, September 11, 2025
⏰ 7:00 PM | Doors open at 6:30 PM
📍 Studio 62 – 614 Center Street, Little Rock, AR

Libations will be served as we set the tone for an engaging evening of learning, conversation, and community.

This event also takes place during Su***de Prevention Awareness Month, making this discussion on mental health and safe spaces even more important and timely.

Seating is limited—CC to Register!

***dePreventionAwarenessMonth

08/21/2025

Media Kit

07/17/2025

We’ve been busy! Here are some event updates regarding our upcoming event, The Black Derby ReImagined

06/12/2025

The GDT Foundation has never been a one-man show. While I may be the face you often see, there’s a powerful group of professionals—handpicked, passionate, and deeply committed—who’ve stood behind the scenes helping to shape what this foundation is and what it’s becoming. From strategy to programming, these voices matter.

Meet the Advisory Committee.
They’re brilliant. They’re bold. And they’re helping carry this mission forward.

03/10/2025

In the rhythm of her words, a fire ignites,
A beacon of power, fierce and bright.
Drekkia Writes—her name is a song,
A melody of courage, unwavering, strong.

She paints the sky with stories untold,
Weaving her wisdom in voices bold.
A Creator, a spark, a radiant guide,
Lifting the dreams that others hide.

With ink as her sword and love as her shield,
She plants the seeds, the hearts she heals.
Her voice, a river that dares to flow,
Breaking the barriers, demanding to grow.

She moves through spaces, shifting the air,
A Motivator with a soul laid bare.
In classrooms, boardrooms, streets unknown,
She speaks of purpose, of stepping alone—
Yet never lonely, for she builds a tribe,
Of women who rise, who claim, who thrive.

An Empowerment Advocate, fierce in her stance,
She whispers to fear, “You stand no chance.”
For every woman who’s doubted her might,
Drekkia reminds her: You are the light.

So here’s to the force that dares to dream,
To the woman who crafts and uplifts the unseen.
A legacy living in hearts and in minds,
Drekkia Writes—your spirit shines.

03/08/2025

Happy International Women’s day!