Project Highlights

THREADS began in 2002 at the University of Michigan as a result of the creative inspiration of Drs. Lumas Helaire and Brian Carey Sims, who were both Ph.D. students at the university. With a deep desire to use their training in psychological and motivation science to serve and support the lives of historically underserved youth, they began THREADS at West Middle School in Ypsilanti, Michigan. A few years later, Dr. Jamaal Sharif Matthews came to the university, also as a Ph.D. student, and soon became the successor and director of the program, invited by Helaire and Sims. Since then, Matthews has expanded and developed the program first at the University of Michigan, and then at Montclair State University and various middle schools in the city of Newark, New Jersey.

Meet The Team

Leadership

Jamaal Sharif Matthews, PhD

Program Director & Co-Creator

Associate Professor, Education & Psychology
College of Education and Human Services
Montclair State University

Lumas Helaire PhD

Founder & Co-Creator

Associate Director, Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives
University of Michigan

Brian Carey Sims, PhD

Founder & Co-Creator

Executive Director, Jomoworks LLC
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)

Advisors

Kyle Boomhower

Instructor for THREADS, School Liaison, Former THREADS mentor ‘16

Mentors

Mentors of the Year

2019

Mariah Rohan & Eric Okai

2018

Jherel Saunders-Dittimus & Jessica Smith

Past Mentor Cohorts

Mentor Cohort 2019, Montclair State University

Mentors Cohort 2019, Montclair State University

(from left to right): Jasir Thomas, Jen Guzman, Deja Peterson, Eric Okai, Zaid Hussein, Mekhi Rivers, Will Dominguez, Melanie Garcia, Ja’Quan Dees, Leonie McDermott, Mariah Rohan

Mentor Cohort 2018, Montclair State University

Mentors Cohort 2018, Montclair State University

(from left to right): Kevin Lee, Andrew Desisto, Terrance Pettiford, Octavio Cano, Mechi Brown, Fausto Geraldo, Jessica Smith, Chianti Welch, Terra Applegate, Jherel Saunders-Dittimus

Mentor Cohort 2017, Montclair State University

Mentors Cohort 2017, Montclair State University

(from left to right): Saul Ocasio, Rayson Bernard, Siani Sanchez, Sam Mompoint, Corey Ford-Graham (front knee), Irving Lozada, D’brickashaw Ferguson (Guest Speaker), Llyasha Moore, Ahmad Sehwail, Derrick Nelson (front knee)

Mentor Cohort 2016, Montclair State University

Mentors Cohort 2016, Montclair State University

(from left to right): Dr. Jamaal Matthews (Director), Jorgi Almojahed, Kyle Boomhower, Leanna Sweetman, Gene Washington, Ivory Fennell, Dave Namery, Andrew Barley, Elijah Blackwell, Lauren Ramos (Project Manager)

Mentor Cohort 2008, University of Michigan

Mentors Cohort 2008, University of Michigan

(from left to right): Walter, Kenny, Chris, Jared, Jamaal, Ike

CONTACT US
info@threadsmentorship.com

ON TWITTER

Finding your purpose doesn’t always happen by yourself. Having a guide or some support can always work too. #THREADSmsu @threadsMSU

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