How One Mississippi Mentor is Helping Young Men Learn to Lead
When you first walk through the doors of Men United in Marks, Mississippi, it does not take long to realize this is not an ordinary mentoring program. The renovated building hums with conversation as young men from communities across the Delta gather in a place that has become much more than an after-school program. Every lesson, every conversation, and every opportunity is designed to prepare young men for life.
One of the men responsible for creating that environment is Milton Williams Jr., although inside these walls he is simply known as Mr. Milton.
Long before Men United existed, Milton’s own life was being shaped a few miles away on Buckskin Plantation outside of Lambert, Mississippi. His father worked on the plantation before returning to school, graduating from Mississippi Valley State University, attending the Mississippi Highway Patrol Academy, and becoming the first Black polygraph examiner in the history of the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Years later, Milton followed the same path, becoming only the third Black polygraph examiner in the agency’s history. Watching his father change the trajectory of their family taught Milton that one person’s decision can influence generations.
That lesson stayed with him throughout his career in law enforcement. From the Mississippi Department of Corrections to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to the Highway Patrol, Milton repeatedly encountered young men who had faced limited opportunity, made poor decisions, and lacked consistent positive male influence. Eventually, he began asking himself a difficult question. What if more young men had strong mentors and positive influences before poor decisions carried lifelong consequences?
That question became the foundation of Men United.
Founded alongside his brother and cousins, many of whom also serve in law enforcement or the military, Men United exists to reach young men before those poor decisions are made. Today, the organization serves participants from communities across the Mississippi Delta by providing mentorship, leadership development, financial literacy, career exploration, community service, and life skills that prepare them for adulthood.
Milton often compares Men United to church because every young man is welcome. Once inside, they are taught that respect, responsibility, accountability, communication, and character are not simply admirable qualities but essential foundations for becoming successful men. They learn practical skills such as introducing themselves professionally, tying a necktie, managing money, obtaining a driver’s license, and carrying themselves with confidence. More importantly, they learn why those lessons matter. Milton believes that the people who raise, guide, and influence young men play a significant role in shaping how they think, respond, and ultimately navigate life. Rather than criticizing young men for what they have never been taught, he surrounds them with positive role models who demonstrate integrity, discipline, and respect, equipping them with the confidence and character to choose a different path.
That philosophy extends beyond the classroom. Milton believes exposure changes expectations because young men cannot aspire to what they have never seen. Over the years, Men United has welcomed nationally recognized leaders, including actor Pooch Hall and gospel artist Kirk Franklin, giving participants the opportunity to hear firsthand from people who have achieved success while encouraging them to pursue their own dreams. Those visits are not about celebrities. They are about helping young men realize that greatness is attainable and that their future can extend the boundaries of their hometown.
Milton also prepares young men for difficult moments they may encounter in everyday life. One of Men United’s most recognized lessons teaches participants how to respond during interactions with law enforcement. His message is rooted in wisdom and personal responsibility, encouraging young men to exercise good judgment. The lesson has reached millions online and has carried that message outside the community of Marks, Mississippi.
The impact of Men United is bigger than weekly meetings. Since opening its doors in 2021, the organization has mentored approximately 150 young men, and according to Milton, all but one participant has avoided incarceration while involved in the program. Parents describe positive changes at home; teachers notice improved behavior, and former participants continue calling Milton years later because they know someone will answer the phone.
As our conversation came to an end, one statement continued to echo long after I left Marks, Mississippi.
“If they don’t see leaders, how can they learn to lead?”
That question challenges every father, coach, pastor, educator, business owner, and community leader to consider the role they play in shaping the next generation. Young men are not born knowing how to lead, love, sacrifice, or persevere. Those lessons are passed from one generation to the next by men willing to invest their time, share their wisdom, and believe in someone else’s future.
Milton Williams Jr. cannot mentor every young man in Mississippi, and he does not believe he should have to. His hope is that other men will recognize the influence they possess and choose to invest it where it matters most. Men United may have started in Marks, but its mission reaches further than the Mississippi Delta. Every community has young men waiting for someone to believe in them, challenge them, and help them discover who they can become. If more men choose to invest in the next generation, communities across our state will become stronger because boys who are guided today will become stronger fathers, husbands, leaders, and mentors of tomorrow. The next generation is watching, and if they are ever going to become leaders, they must first have the opportunity to see one.
