by: Jillian Rameau
Brothers Quay Longs and Jamaree Jones were striving for success at an early age. During his years at FGCU, Jamaree (JJ) found himself looking to volunteer and came across New Horizons of Southwest Florida. He was passionate about impacting the community through
youth development and completed over 300 hours during his undergrad. Quay quickly became interested in giving back to the community as well, sparking his interest to become an active volunteer with New Horizons. The volunteer duo wanted to reach a greater audience of need and decided to think about opportunities students had, that they could not necessarily see. What began as a spark to impact the community, through the knowledge and growth of entrepreneurship, quickly became so much more than that.
The brothers knew they were destined to do more in their community and believe they were called to give back– this is where Strive Hall was born. After Quay took a temporary pause from school, the idea of assisting youth that have experienced similar life circumstances came to mind. The goal of Strive Hall is to reach students and inspire them with an entrepreneur mindset, encouraging them to reach their full potential in life. Leading with love is at the root of Stive Hall’s core values, says JJ. For Quay and Jamaree, it is essential that students are passionate about what they are pursuing in life, ultimately embracing their individuality. As Quay says, “it’s important to be comfortable with being uncomfortable”, as it is their goal to push students to achieve their dreams, instilling confidence and communication skills within them.
For a portion of the summer, students have the chance to stay on campus, meet new peers, and engage in fun, educational activities. Strive has been active for three years and runs June-July with multiple sessions throughout the months. With each weekend comes a new topic mostly targeting things that are not taught in school, such as emotional intelligence. Volunteers conduct workshops, games, as well as insightful conversations on understanding emotional intelligence, while educating students on coping mechanisms and identifiers. Classes are held on Florida Gulf Coast’s campus in Lucas Hall, giving those present a chance to experience what a weekend in college could be like. Students that are not sure what their future holds or are experiencing educational discouragement can gain a new perspective on all the positives entrepreneurship can offer.
For Quay and JJ, everything in their practice is purposeful and has a ‘why’. “You don’t have to be rich to give back, there are so many ways to give back to community” Quay exclaims.
Their goals are to expand their reach throughout all Southwest Florida and most importantly help individuals be the best they can be, by educating them on the opportunities of entrepreneurship.
Impacts on the community and students have been nothing short of inspiring. JJ shared that many students have chosen to enroll in college to purse their dreams, as well as return to the camp to take on leadership roles to mentor other students. The brothers are aware that motivation is what gives students a drive and JJ encourages readers to “just do it”- whatever that may be, get involved in your community, impact others, and just do it. Most importantly Quay reminds us that “if you want to have an impact on the community, you have to get in the community.” For those looking to make a difference, and get involved through volunteer work, New Horizons is the perfect place to begin, and offers a multitude of opportunities to give back.
