According to the National Institutes of Health, more than two-thirds of African American males have directly experienced a traumatic event in their lifetime. NIH also says that 56 to 74% of Black males exposed to traumatic events may have an unmet need for mental health services.

Through his volunteer work with the Broken Men Foundation, Troy Mitchell sees the effects of these statistics firsthand — and for him, the work is deeply personal. His experiences have fueled his passion for the cause, making him a dedicated mentor. He’s committed to saving one youth at a time from the adverse effects of trauma and PTSD.

“I’ve been there, done, and seen some of the same things my mentees have seen and done,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell’s own journey is intertwined with the struggles of the young men he mentors.

His mother kicked him out of the house at 16. Admitting to being a stubborn, hot-tempered, teenager, he knows he was lucky that he didn’t get into more trouble. This personal connection fuels his passion and commitment to the cause, making his dedication palpable.

“I believe consistency is important,” he says. “I tell my mentees they can call me any time—day or night. I also want them to know that getting mental help is normal. We don’t normalize getting mental help in the black community.”

Growing up in the projects, Mitchell’s father was in and out of the home. His parents grew up together, married young, divorced when he was 4 and remarried when he was 10. He was fortunate to have family in his childhood neighborhood of Washington Park, where he had the support of both grandfathers, uncles and aunts.

Over the decades, Mitchell says he’s mended his relationship with his mother. She had a kidney transplant last year, spending over four months in the ICU. He gets emotional when talking about his mother’s medical journey and is grateful that her health is improving.

Outside of his philanthropic work, Mitchell enjoys a range of hobbies such as sporting and music events and finds relaxation in riding motorcycles and enjoying a good cigar. He also considers himself a creative type trying to learn about interior design through binge watching HGTV, jokingly referring to it as an addiction.

Lacking the means to travel when he was younger, a stint in the Army sparked his love of travel. Seeing the different cultures of Korea and Germany made him curious about other cultures. He says his favorite place outside the U.S. is the South of France because of the weather and its relaxing scenery. Ghana is where he wants to go next.

Meet the once troubled teenager who defied the odds to mature into a loving son, proud father, devoted mentor, and this week’s Personality:

Volunteer position: Mentor.

Occupation: Information Systems security manager.

Date and place of birth: Oct. 1 in Richmond.

Where I live now: Henrico.

Education: Bachelor’s in information systems from the University of Phoenix and a master’s in management information systems from the University of Maryland University College.

Family: Daughter, Bre’h Mitchell, 29, and son, Troy Mitchell II, 24.

Tell us about the Broken Men Foundation Youth Academy: The Broken Men Foundation assists boys who have experienced traumatic experiences, broken homes, or anything that has negatively impacted them. That hurt and pain may have caused them to become stagnant and disconnected from life’s situations.

Location: Richmond.

When, why and who founded: Ellery Lundy founded the organization in 2014 to invest in the next generation of our youths by leading by example, spending quality time, loving them unconditionally and mentoring them through their questions of daily life experiences.

Briefly explain how the Broken Men Foundation Youth Academy works: We assist boys who have had bad relationships. We strive to make broken youths better men by giving them the emotional support to overcome their past, teaching essential life skills and life lessons, empowering them to be more productive citizens and leaders and providing a family of support.

How I became involved with the Broken Men Foundation Youth Academy: My friend for over 40 years, Steve Clarke, is the executive director. It was an easy decision to volunteer my time to assist the youths in my hometown.

Why this organization is meaningful to me: Being a part of young men’s lives who would not ordinarily receive the blessings of access to men willing to support and teach them about life. They wouldn’t usually get it anywhere else.

How I’ve witnessed the Broken Men Foundation Youth Academy make a difference in a young person’s life: I’ve seen a young man in a court-mandated program go from being always angry and aggressive to being able to testify to the younger mentors about self-control and maturity.

Why I accepted the position as the Broken Men Foundation Youth Academy’s 10th Anniversary Celebration Fundraising Dinner event chair: I believe in celebrating outstanding achievements and progress. The organization has been instrumental in enough kids’ lives to deserve to be celebrated.

No. 1 goal as fundraising dinner event chair: To raise awareness that our organization exists. I want to ensure everyone knows we are willing to take on more responsibility for developing our city’s youths.

Why this is a hot ticket: It will allow us to be a more significant asset to our mentees and the community we serve.

How the event will benefit Black boys and young men: The gala will provide much-needed funding for community activities and possibly a new facility for us.

Details of fundraising dinner dance: The event will be Aug. 31. We will have a social hour at 6 p.m. for our VIP guests, followed by dinner and a special guest artist performing covers of hits. After dinner, we will have a DJ for a night of dancing from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite.

Other ways to support Broken Men Foundation Youth Academy: You can donate or purchase merchandise on our website, brokenmenfoundation.org.

How I start the day: I give God praise for allowing me to see another day.

Three words that best describe me: Manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift (I know that’s 4).

If I had 10 extra minutes in the day: I would sleep a little longer.

My dream dinner party guest: I would invite Richard Pryor because I love his comedy.

Best late-night snack: Plums.

Top three songs on my playlist: My top three songs are “Beautiful Life” by Chuck Brown, “Kanday” by LL Cool J and “I Got a Story to Tell” by the Notorious B.I.G.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I watch HGTV.

Most inspiring quote: “Running from it won’t save you.”

The best thing my parents/guardians ever taught me: To keep God first.

The person who influenced me the most: My mother.

Most influential book: “The Miseducation of the Negro” by Carter G. Woodson. It discusses the disparity in education and resources that were available to Negros during the Depression.

What I’m reading now and my takeaway: I’m not reading anything for sheer enjoyment at the moment because I’m gearing up for my graduate classes at Virginia Union University.

Next goal: I’d like to get a master’s in Christian education. I’m in my second semester now.