Mario Jovan Shaw

  • Profound Gentlemen

  • Co-Founded with Jason Terrell

  • 2015 Black Male Achievement Fellow

Mario Jovan Shaw
  • Profound Gentlemen

  • Co-Founded with Jason Terrell

  • 2015 Black Male Achievement Fellow

bold idea

Increase the number of impactful and influential role models for black male students by recruiting and developing black men to be schoolteachers.

organization overview

Profound Gentlemen strategically recruits, develops, and sustains black male educators who offer a profound additional impact in the lives of students, more specifically young black males. Through a cohort experience, tailored development, and continuing opportunities, Profound Gentlemen shapes black males who redefine the image of urban education. Profound Gentlemen’s end goal is to match the percentage of black male educators to young black boys in urban education while giving them more positive images and opportunities to pursue their purpose.

Personal Bio

Mario Jovan is an artist, storyteller, leadership coach dedicated to empowering social impact leaders. He began his journey as a 7th-grade teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, where he founded the Brotherhood, a program for young Black males. Motivated by the lack of male educators of color, Mario co-founded Profound Gentlemen, successfully retaining 98% of male teachers of color annually.

Inspired by his own experiences with leadership coaching, Mario founded Messy Roots, a coaching organization for social impact leaders. Recognized by Forbes’ 30 Under 30, he is also a mindfulness instructor, RYT 200 Yoga Instructor, and author of the Inside Out Journal.

  • Organization/Fellow Location ?

    Our most recent information as to where the Fellow primarily resides.

    Charlotte, United States

  • Impact Location ?

    Countries or continents that were the primary focus of this Fellow’s work at the time of their Fellowship.

  • Organization Structure ?

    An organization can be structured as a nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid (a structure that incorporates both nonprofit and for-profit elements).

    Nonprofit

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