Bio for Calvin Mann...

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….Advocate for boys and fathers.

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Calvin T. Mann, a native Detroiter, entered the movement to encourage others as a youth in the early 80’s.  While developing his athletic abilities he emerged as a leader through his capacity to recognize, develop, and encourage the skills of his teammates.  After graduating Ferndale High School and a brief stay at Michigan Christian College, Mann’s life began to change as he met with challenges and obstacles that took his life in unexpected directions and away from college life.  One of the unexpected directions of his life was the appointment to Basketball Coach at his alma mater, Ferndale High School. 

As one of the youngest coaches in school history, Mann was appointed to a varsity level basketball coach where he focused on character building, inspiring and encouraging student athletes; a strategy that served him well for more than 30 years.  Throughout his coaching career, Mann further served his community by volunteering his unique coaching expertise to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and supporting the athletic careers of hundreds of young men and women throughout Metro Detroit. The momentum to encourage youth prompted him to become the founder and president of Encourage Me I’m Young, Inc. 

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While Mann’s legacy includes facilitator, talk show host (Daddy Talk), mentor, visionary, coach, author, community activist and proud father of 4; he continues to build boys and men in ways that change their trajectory.  He has coordinated recreation and mentorship programs, led intervention strategies in detention centers, communities, families, and schools.  Rising from the legacy seeded by Rev. Columbus Mann and Ollibell Rosetha Mann (the originators of the song “Oh Happy Day”) he is building a legacy not only for his own children but for all children in need of encouragement and all fathers who want to be and are “good fathers.”  Mann’s passion and unique perspective exemplifies diversity, self-belief, and love for his fellow man. 

He has a firm understanding of how people think and continues to actively educate those he meets by imparting an integral idiom to encourage someone close to them; to be the example.

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Often serving on panels, creating intervention opportunities in schools, or speaking directly to students in elementary, middle, high schools and colleges or sports teams, ministries and other public venues, his enlightening words captivate audiences.  Offering practical solutions and perspectives of fatherhood, realizing your potential, mentorship, family connections, community impact, or sportsmanship his topics empower people toward real change and continues to reach them in the places closest to their heart. 

He has earned the respect and admiration of many including the City of Detroit who bestowed its highest honor “The Spirit of Detroit” award and Wayne County Commissioners, who in a powerful resolution, name April 6th  “EMIY National Respect Day” to acknowledge the investment and role of Calvin Mann in encouragement throughout the county and our country.  And more recently, 2017, Congressmen and senators in the State of Michigan bestowed upon Mann, its highest honor and resolution sealing National Respect Day and Calvin Mann in its preserved history forever and now encourages the US Congress to do the same!  

Calvin is a Man[n] on the front line; encouraging boys and supporting fathers; changing families and our community one encouraging word at a time.