A Slam Dunk from the Jersey Mann

There are so many reasons to be proud of our Ready, Willing & Able graduates, who overcome incredible obstacles to achieve a better future for themselves and their families. One of our favorites is when graduates pay it forward by becoming leaders in their communities.

Omar, who now devotes himself to at-risk youth, is a stellar example of this in action — and an example of our graduates’ limitless potential.

Omar joined Ready, Willing & Able after a dysfunctional upbringing. Born and raised in Flatbush, Brooklyn, his parents separated when he was 7, and Omar moved to Jamaica for a year to live with his grandmother. Eventually, his parents got back together, and his father bought a large house in Florida. For a moment, it seemed like the American Dream was within their reach.  

But it was all a façade. While Omar and his three siblings thought their father was working a legitimate job, he was actually selling drugs to support the family. On the run from the police, he had to sell their house and return the family to NYC. Eventually, he turned himself in and faced a 10-year sentence at Rikers Island.

Omar’s family soon entered poverty. Omar was tempted to enter the drug trade himself to support them — following in his father’s footsteps — only to turn back after realizing how much it destroyed his family. Determined to walk down a path of righteousness, but lacking resources or opportunity, Omar relied on his ambition and worked any job that would hire him. 

For years, Omar felt lost. His attempts to obtain employment as a teenager was met with the same refrain: “You’re too young to work for us.” But despite the rejection, Omar persevered. He attended summer and night school, and was the first in his family to graduate from high school and trade school.

In 2001, his father came home from prison. Omar thought he would return a changed man. Instead, his father recidivated and was deported back to England. The family would never recover its stability, and despite all Omar achieved, at 25 he was sleeping in the husk of burnt-down apartment infested with termites and mosquitoes.

It was at this low point when Omar had an epiphany, which he described as “feeling the Spirit of God.” He started therapy and entered the shelter system, with a goal of turning his life around and getting his own apartment. In 2007, while Omar was in Samaritan Village, he saw the Men in Blue cleaning the streets. He knew immediately that Ready, Willing & Able was exactly where he needed to be.

Omar walked through the doors of The Doe Fund’s Harlem Center for Opportunity the next day and received the opportunities needed. He finally had the structure and the support system he longed for. He was able to work, save money, and rebuild his life.

“The Doe Fund is the best thing that can ever happen to a man who wants to turn his life around,” Omar told us.

He continued, “Sweeping the streets felt good. I was in my own world and nobody bothered me. I felt like I was starting out anew.”

Even more helpful than the work was the community, which inspired him to be the best version of himself. “Brotherhood could be felt,” Omar said. “You are around men who are trying to achieve their goals, and you don’t feel like you’re alone in the fight.”

In 2008, Omar graduated from the program. He obtained employment in the restaurant industry and sanitation department. He moved into his first apartment of his own, where he’s lived ever since.

As a huge basketball fan, Omar had another dream come true thanks to The Doe Fund: he attended his first ever New York Knicks game during an event with the Men in Blue. Upon graduating, Omar finally had the discretionary income to foster his passion: over the years, he’s collected over 200 authentic NBA jerseys, receiving the nickname “Jersey Mann.” Omar even went viral after a photo of him in Shaquille O’Neal’s uniform spread on social media, eventually making it on ESPN!

Omar even went on to start his own nonprofit, The Jersey Mann NYC Basketball Tournament INC., an extracurricular sports group that supports disadvantaged children and teens. “I started a basketball league because a lot of kids don’t have role models to push them in the right direction. My program is designed to get basketball players and celebrities to influence kids to go in the right direction,” said Omar.

“Our organization was founded on the belief that if we could encourage at-risk youth to drop the guns and pick up the ball, then we can save hundreds of people’s futures — one tournament at a time.”