Carl West, a publisher, editor, CEO, father, and mentor. His story shows what’s possible when a young person has guidance, accountability, and a community that refuses to give up.
His experiences are central to his book, The Power of Mentoring, and drive his ongoing efforts to help the next generation avoid the challenges he once faced.
Carl West shares a personal reflection on coming of age in the Southside
Growing up on the Southside of Chicago and graduating from CVS High School, West saw early on how a young life could take very different paths. Like many teens in underserved areas, he faced both opportunity and danger. As a student-athlete with potential, he was also surrounded by peers attracted to the streets, where fast money and a false sense of belonging tempted many.
“I was living in two worlds,” West shared. “I was an athlete, so I moved freely in my neighborhood. On the same court, we all played together, football, basketball, and baseball. But when the games ended, everyone split into two groups: the ‘good kids’ went home, and the ‘bad kids’ stayed out. I walked on both sides. We all did the same things, chased girls, got high, drank, but the bad kids took it one step further once the streetlights came on. I joined them sometimes, not a lot, but enough.
Older men in the neighborhood would pull me aside and say, ‘Carl, that’s not who you are.’ Eventually, they told those guys to leave me alone, and I was pushed away from that side. Years later, in my early twenties, it hit me hard that every one of the five guys I used to run with on that side was dead.”
Older men in the community, coaches, neighbors, mentors, and friends who lived the hood lifestyle recognized something in him and made it their responsibility to step in. They challenged his choices, kept him accountable, and reminded him of what he could become.
Those early experiences left a lasting impact. As West built a successful career, he always remembered those who supported him when he needed it most. Eventually, mentoring became not just something he received, but something he felt he had to give back.
The Power of Mentoring: Transforming lives through guidance, wisdom, and example
That sense of responsibility led to The Power of Mentoring, a book West says draws on over 30 years of observation, reflection, and hands-on work. Published by Chicago’s Third World Press Foundation, the book is both personal and practical, giving readers a clear look at how mentorship works and why it matters now.
In his book, West describes what he calls the three pillars of effective mentoring.
The first pillar is the young person. West believes young people need to find people they respect and look for guidance from those who are genuine and available.
“Everyone may not be able to reach a celebrity or public figure,” he explains, “but there are mentors right in your community if you’re paying attention.”
The second pillar is parents or guardians. West says parents are a child’s first mentors, even if they don’t realize it. The voices, actions, and values in the home shape how children see themselves and the world. Even when parents try their best, West points out, they can’t do it alone.
The third pillar is the village. West sees this as the point at which mentoring becomes everyone’s job. He believes communities are already mentoring children every day, whether they mean to or not. The problem, he says, is that negative influences often reach kids before positive ones.
“There are people recruiting our kids into harmful lifestyles the same way we should be recruiting them into success,” West has said. “If we don’t step in early, someone else will.”
Over the years, he has seen how quickly young people can get caught up in violence, incarceration, and missed chances. He believes mentorship should start early, before life-changing decisions are made.
What’s coming up next for Mr. West
To put his ideas into practice, West started the My Leadership Initiative, a mentoring program in Chicago that works closely with young men during their key years. Each year, the program picks five participants ages 14 to 18. For eight months, West meets with them often, leading talks on leadership, accountability, decision-making, and critical thinking.
“Some decisions change your life in seconds,” West explains. “Teaching young people how to think critically can be the difference between graduating or dropping out, between freedom or incarceration.”
The program is small by design. West believes it’s better to go deep than wide, especially when trust is important. Participants are urged to ask questions, challenge ideas, and think honestly about their choices. Many discussions focus on real situations young men already face, such as peer pressure and family responsibilities.
Over the years, he has mentored people who later became educators, business owners, community leaders, and professionals in many fields.
He often tells the story of a young woman from Chicago’s South Side who faced poverty, instability, and violence early on. With steady mentorship and support, she earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees, taught English in China for six years, and now works as a school principal in Texas.
As West prepares for a nationwide book tour in spring 2026, he hopes The Power of Mentoring will inspire readers to reflect on who mentored them and who they can mentor next. He makes it clear that mentorship isn’t just for professionals, educators, or people with titles.
“Anybody between 25 and 60 has something to offer,” he says. “Outside of your own children, you should be guiding at least one other person.”
Along with his book and mentoring program, West is growing his mission through his digital platform, nspireu.tech. The site features inspiring content that uplifts people and communities through stories and reflection.
“We don’t change communities overnight,” West says. “But if everyone mentors just one person, everything changes.”
