Project Optimism

Ishmael Pruitt (he/him/his)

“Establishing school based mentorship programs is important because it supports the creation of a safe place for young people who spend 1/3 of their daily development there. For many, the cultural norms at home are significantly different from the cultural expectations in schools. This can trigger mismanaged behaviors and emotions that impact the child's educational experience. By assigning mentors , the cultural context of the young child can be considered before any punitive measures are implemented. Additionally, it supports on-going relationship building to allow for trusted accountability and for the young person to be viewed as a child first before their identity as a student. Doing so creates space to acknowledge the subtle progress of a child in an environment where the academic stats are overly emphasized.”

Ishmael Pruitt (he/him/his) believes that meaningful social change begins with the education and empowerment of young people. He is a proud alumnus of Sacramento State University and Long Beach State, where he earned his Masters degree in Student Development. Ishmael has spent several years working in both community colleges and university settings, supporting historically underrepresented students. He now is the Co-founder and CEO of Project Optimism, a California based nonprofit that provides K- college mentorship programs and community engagement initiatives to support the development and wellbeing of youth. Known for his ability to blend humor, theory and cultural awareness, Ishmael has taken his message as a speaker to secondary schools, colleges and nonprofits across the county helping young people reimagine what is possible for their lives. Ishmael is a father, husband, proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.