The MAN Foundation

08/31/2026

✨ Motivational Monday! ✨

Yesterday, The M.A.N. Foundation hosted our annual Fathers Forward Back-to-School Summer Fest for a selected group of fathers and their children inside the Portsmouth City Jail.

The event focused on family reunification, strengthening father-child bonds, and creating meaningful memories before the new school year. 💙

📺 Check out the highlights from 13News Now!

I would also like to recognize and thank everyone who participated. I will share a bigger appreciation post recognizing everyone once we receive our professional pictures.

A Portsmouth back-to-school event reunited incarcerated fathers with their children, reinforcing family bonds and the importance of parenting.

08/28/2026

🎒🔍 Find-the-Board Friday: We Were Outside! 🔍🎒

On Sunday, the Honorable Lakeesha Klu Atkinson, a.k.a. School Board Klu, and I, a.k.a. School Board Barbie, brought a little Where’s Waldo? fun to Portsmouth with our Catch the Board School-Supply Tour!

In partnership with The MAN Foundation, Believe Pray Overcome, and sponsor Portsmouth United, we distributed book bags and school supplies in four Portsmouth communities: Churchland, Southside, Cradock, and Cavalier Manor!

A special shout-out to Velvet Smith, Tiffany Brooks, Markie Riddick, Sergio Neal/Sergio Neal, Jen T Lee and Endia Hatcher for volunteering and helping us make the day a success. We also thank every parent and family who followed the clues, found us, and came out to get school supplies!

We plan to do it again in the middle of the school year to help families replenish the supplies that always seem to disappear as the year goes on because the pencils may vanish, but our commitment to Portsmouth’s children will not! ✏️📚

We still have a few book bags available, so please reach out if your child needs one!

Shout out to Latricia Calloway for the pictures.

08/26/2026

🌟 Winning Women Wednesday 🌟

On Friday, the Honorable Lakeesha Klu Atkinson (School Board Klu)and I (School Board Barbie), along with Dr. Velvet Smith, Leatha Ballard and Jen T Lee, had the privilege of accompanying an amazing group of young ladies from The MAN Foundation, Horizons Hampton Roads, and Churchland High School to Richmond for Southern Black Girls Day at the Capitol at the Joy & Justice event.

Our girls spent the day surrounded by powerful women, inspiring leaders, and other young ladies from across Virginia. They were encouraged to use their voices, advocate for themselves and their communities, dream boldly, and recognize the power they possess to create change. From education and advocacy to STEM, arts, culture, and leadership, the experience showed them that their voices matter and that they belong in every space where decisions are made.

A heartfelt thank-you to my Sorors Kimberly Wimbish and Candi MundonKing for inviting us and ensuring that Portsmouth’s young ladies were represented. We are grateful for every opportunity to expose our girls to new experiences, positive role models, and spaces that celebrate their brilliance, beauty, voices, and limitless potential.

We are also thankful that we were able to use The M.A.N. Foundation van, the Believe, Pray, Overcome van, and the Sprinter van from Big Homies Community Outreach Program to transport our young ladies safely to this unforgettable experience. It truly takes a village, and we appreciate every organization and community partner who helped make this trip possible!

Portsmouth showed up, and our girls represented us beautifully! 💕✨

08/23/2026

🚨 HAPPENING TODAY! 🚨

All right, today’s the day! Join School Board Klu and School Board Barbie for our “Catch the Board” Scavenger Hunt—Where’s Waldo: School Supply Edition! 🎒📚✏️

Can you find us at all four stops?

🔍 11:00 a.m. — Somewhere in Churchland
🔍 12:30 p.m. — Somewhere on the Southside
🔍 2:00 p.m. — Somewhere in Cradock
🔍 3:30 p.m. — Somewhere in Cavalier Manor

Follow the clues, find School Board Klu and School Board Barbie, and grab school supplies, books, healthy snacks, and giveaways while supplies last!

Let the hunt begin! Where will we pop up first? 👀

08/22/2026

📍 CAN YOU FIND US? 📍

Tomorrow – Catch the Board Tour with School Board Klu and School Board Barbie! 💖

Sponsored by the The MAN Foundation, Believe Pray Overcome, and Portsmouth United.

Here are a few clues about where we’ll be:
(Watch the video)

🎃 11:00 a.m. – Think Halloween colors!
🏘️ 12:30 p.m. – Think Boldens!
⚓ 2:00 p.m. – Follow the anchor!
🧡💙 3:30 p.m. – Think UVA’s mascot!

Can you solve the clues and find us?

Stop by for school supplies, healthy snacks, books, giveaways, and lots of fun! We can’t wait to see you! 🎒📚🍎🎁

08/14/2026

🎉 Fun Friday with The MAN Foundation! 🎉

Last Friday, The MAN Foundation had the opportunity to participate in a Friday Community Cares Day at London Oaks. We partnered with Horizons Hampton Roads to provide a fun and memorable experience for youth and their families.

During our interactive photo activity, participants answered a question on a whiteboard, posed for a picture with their response, and decorated their own picture frames. They added magnets to the backs of their frames so they could proudly display them on their refrigerators at home. Each participant also received a positive affirmation card and a Snack Attack bag!

The activity was a huge hit, and the youth truly enjoyed expressing themselves, taking pictures, and creating special keepsakes to take home. Thank you to Horizon Hampton Roads for partnering with us to make this wonderful experience possible! ❤️

08/07/2026

Freedom Friday ❤️🤍💙

Yesterday evening, I had the opportunity to participate in the launch of the YES on Question 3 campaign, and this one is personal.

For 11 years, The MAN Foundation has walked alongside incarcerated individuals, returning citizens, and their families. We have helped clients navigate the restoration-of-rights process, including Man and Keith, whose stories helped inspire this work.

Question 3 would amend Virginia’s Constitution so that people convicted of felonies would have their political rights automatically restored upon release from incarceration, rather than having to apply to the Governor.

We’ve held voter registration efforts in partnership with the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office, and now we’re taking it a step further! 🚐🗳️ The M.A.N. Vans will soon provide mobile voter registration in our communities. Dates and locations are coming!

Second chances should include the opportunity to have your voice heard.

❤️ Your story matters.
🤍 Your voice matters.
💙 Your vote matters.

Vote YES on Question 3 this November! 🗳️

08/05/2026

🌐✨ Website Wednesday! ✨🌐

We are excited to officially share the newly updated The M.A.N. Foundation website.

Over the past 11 years, we have poured our hearts into serving our community, and now our website reflects that journey. From our signature events and family centered programs to our newest outreach initiative, the M.A.N. Vans, this site showcases everything that makes our organization who we are.

Most importantly, you will get to meet the heartbeat of our organization, our incredible Board of Directors, along with our amazing intern from Virginia State University, whose dedication helps move our mission forward.

Take some time to explore the website, learn about our impact, and see what we have accomplished together over the last 11 years.

💻 For the best experience, visit the website on your desktop to enjoy the full design and interactive features.

If our mission speaks to you, please consider making a donation. Your support allows us to continue empowering incarcerated individuals, returning citizens, their families, and our community through meaningful programs and outreach.

🌐 Visit us today: www.manfoundationinc.org

Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us continue to make an impact, one life, one family, and one community at a time. 🩷

The M.A.N. Foundation helps incarcerated individuals, returning citizens, and families rebuild their lives through education, mentoring, and reentry support.

08/04/2026

🚐👀 Catch the Board is Coming! 👀🚐

The countdown is on for our Catch the Board: Back-to-School Community Scavenger Hunt! 🎒📚

Join The Honorable Lakeesha "Klu" Atkinson and The Honorable Dr. Jaclyn Walker 4 Portsmouth School Board as we travel across Portsmouth bringing school supplies, books, giveaways, and community resources to families while giving you the opportunity to meet 2 of your School Board members!

We’re keeping a few surprises under wraps, but don’t worry—we’ll be releasing a video in the coming weeks with more information, clues, and everything you need to know before the big day!

Until then…
🩷 Mark your calendar: Sunday, August 23, 2026
🚐 Get ready to find the vans
🧩 Follow the clues
🎒 Fill your backpack
🤝 Meet 2 of your School Board members

Stay tuned… the clues are coming soon! 😉🎉

Sponsored by: Believe Pray Overcome, The MAN Foundation & Portsmouth United

05/27/2026

🚌 Wheels on the Bus Wednesday 🚌

Last week, Dr. Walker had the opportunity to ride the afternoon bus route with Ms. Nikkie Babie Mitchell and Ms. Marie. One thing that immediately stood out was how Ms. Nikkie greeted every student with a cheerful “Good afternoon” when they boarded and a “Goodbye, have a great day” when they exited. Those small moments help create a positive and welcoming environment for our children.

Bus drivers and bus aides are often the first and last school employees students see each day. They help ensure safety, build relationships, and set the tone for a successful day.

That’s why The MAN Foundation was proud to recognize Ms. Nikkie and Ms. Marie during Educators’ Week. We believe everyone connected to a school system is an educator because they are all teaching our children something. They received Chick-fil-A lunch cards, certificates, and Pownd Cakes by Jen as a small token of appreciation.

Keep up the great work, ladies! ❤️🚌✨