Establishment and Founder
A Few Great Men was founded in 2017 by Michael Belle, a visionary dedicated to transformative social change. Michael’s initial passion for establishing the organisation stemmed from his experiences conducting The Life Skills Workshops at HMP Belmarsh as part of Change Grow Live (CGL). It was during these workshops that Michael frequently received feedback from inmates stating, “If I received these lessons and teachings in school, I would’ve never come to jail.” This consistent feedback served as the impetus for Michael to create an organisation aimed at uplifting individuals from inner-city communities and curbing the school-to-prison pipeline.
Early Initiatives
Following its founding, A Few Great Men launched its first program, ‘The Young Stars Project,’ at Ernest Bevin Academy and several other schools and pupil referral units across London. This initiative marked the beginning of a journey that would soon bring Michael back into the prison system, emphasising the ongoing need for self-evaluation and empowerment within isolated populations.
Vision and Expansion
Michael's vision for A Few Great Men was to collaborate with like-minded individuals capable of delivering transformative work from a soulful perspective. He understood that the mission of igniting light in the dark environments of prisons required more than his efforts alone. Thus, he began building a team of ‘Reasoning Mentors’, a core component of A Few Great Men’s outreach strategy. By 2021, the organization had established a significant presence in several prisons, providing regular courses (Y.O.U - Your Own Universe) and workshops designed to stimulate self-improvement and positive change among all that they engaged with.
Ongoing Impact
Today, A Few Great Men continues to deliver impactful programs within multiple HMP establishments while also extending their efforts to schools and communities. The organisation remains committed to Michael's foresight of creating new realms of positive engagement for all who connect with its mission. The ongoing work of A Few Great Men is a testament to the enduring legacy that Michael Belle envisioned—a legacy of Love, Peace, and Growth.
The Future
The journey of A Few Great Men is just beginning. With a steadfast commitment to its founding principles and a growing network of dedicated mentors and supporters, the organisation is poised to make an even greater impact in the years to come. Michael Belle's vision of rising up the environments, thoughts, words, and existence of those from inner-city communities continues to drive the organization's mission forward, ensuring that A Few Great Men's legacy will be one of lasting change for better.
Environments
When we discuss environments, we are referring to the space where we invest most of our time - within our minds! Our physical surroundings can certainly influence our viewpoints. However, no matter where we are in this world, if the environment of our mind is not healthy and doesn't cultivate positive thought patterns, we may find ourselves trapped in the same cycles of mindset, irrespective of our physical locations.
Thoughts
Every tangible object you perceive initially began as a 'thought' in someone's mind. Thoughts transcend into substantial entities, both mentally and physically. Our thoughts serve as the genesis of our creations and we each possess the power to think! Through nurturing positive thought patterns, we hold the capability to shape the reality we desire for ourselves.
Words
Thoughts give rise to words, and what we think, believe, and name ourselves or others can travel across the universe only to return to the being that vocalised or envisioned it (Law of Attraction). Verbalising positive affirmations serves as an ideal channel to attune your higher subconscious self. Be mindful of your thoughts and words, for words are truly Swords (S-words), which possess the ability to impact you whether for better or worse.
Existence
Only Y.O.U can determine the nature of your existence. However, by consciously applying and aligning your Environment, Thoughts, and Words, you can surely manifest a positive Existence in life.
