DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — A local program is aiming to fill the gap in the Decatur community. De'Juan Sparkman, founder of "Shoes to Fill", found his purpose while enrolled at Millikin University.
"Started from just an idea. One day I was sitting in a Woods couch at Millikin like, 'I should start a mentoring program,'" said Sparkman.
Sparkman started off mentoring kids on the Decatur Bears football team.
Now, he's a coach and permanent mentor. The program partners with Walk It Like We Talk It, an organization striving for youth empowerment in Decatur.
"I started it March 4th, 2020. It was the death anniversary of my father. So, I kind of launched it in honor of him. That's kind of a play on the name. Where like absent fathers in the African American community. Shoes to fill, just overall role models and stuff like that," said Sparkman.
The program focuses participants on professional development, etiquette and bettering themselves personally and professionally.
Right now, over 20 kids are involved.
"Shoes to Fill is one of the best programs. It's one of my first programs I've ever been in. Like, it's a lot of great things about the program," Marshon Simon, a program participant told WAND News.
Sparkman and his team of mentors are aiming to change the lives of the local youth. They say being close in age has allowed for better connection and understanding.
"It's pretty important now because they're at such a young age. They're easily influenced about a lot of stuff. So like, we should try to put it in their heads now like it's better to do something good than like fall into that bad crowd," said Traymar Brown, mentor.
Kids volunteer in the community, help with events and remain active, all while impacting lives and creating an unconditional bond.
"My favorite part is like when after practice, we would go out to eat and then we'd go home. Then on the weekends, he would take us to Chicago, St. Louis or something," said Simon.
"That's literally what it is. It's all about trying to give back and offer resources that I obtained," Sparkman told WAND News.
To find out more about what Walk It Like We Talk It has to offer, you can visit their website here.
If you're interested in the Shoes to Fill program, you can contact them at info@walkitlikewetalkit.org.
