At some point, the lessons learned from a mentor become more than personal guidance. They begin to influence the decisions a person makes, the responsibilities they accept, and the opportunities they create for others. For Nate Turnipseed and Ernest Wilkins, that influence has come full circle.
Both participated in youth development programs offered by 100 Black Men of Indianapolis. Both benefited from the guidance of accomplished Black men who invested their time in helping young people develop confidence, character, and leadership skills. And today, the two are working together through Scouting America to expand opportunities for Black and Hispanic youth to discover their own potential.
Their journeys began in different programs, but each demonstrates how mentorship can influence a young person’s life long after formal participation ends.
Nate first learned about The 100 through its Dollars and $ense Financial Literacy Program, where he learned about investing, financial decision-making, and the importance of planning for his future. He eventually represented the Indianapolis chapter at a national competition, gaining experience beyond the program’s weekly sessions.
As Nate continued his education, the lessons he learned through The 100 began to influence how he approached leadership and service. At Indiana University Indianapolis, he served two years as president of Collegiate 100, taking on greater responsibility while developing the skills to guide and support his peers. His commitment to the organization also brought him back to its younger participants, where he spent Saturday mornings volunteering with fifth- through ninth-grade students in the Team Mentoring program.
“The 100 gave me more than an opportunity to learn about financial literacy,” Nate said. “The men who invested in me showed me how to lead, how to work through challenges, and how to take responsibility for something bigger than myself. As I grew older, I began to understand that I had an opportunity to offer that same guidance to someone else.”
Kraig Kinchen, executive director of 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, has had the privilege of watching that transformation unfold.
“I first met Nate in high school, and I later had the opportunity to serve alongside Nate as he volunteered to work with fifth- through ninth-grade students in our Team Mentoring program on Saturday mornings,” Kinchen said. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to watch him grow as a leader over the years.”
It’s the kind of experience that makes time pass especially meaningfully for a mentor. The young man who once benefited from others’ guidance had become someone younger students could look to for encouragement and support.
Ernest Wilkins found encouragement through The Beautillion Militaire Scholarship Program, although his introduction to The 100 came during a particularly uncertain time. In 2021, as the world was slowly emerging from the isolation of COVID-19, members of his church encouraged him to participate in the program. After months of disrupted routines and limited opportunities to connect with others, Ernest welcomed the chance to spend time with young men who shared similar experiences and aspirations.
Some sessions were held virtually, others in person, with participants still wearing masks as they began gathering again. Yet what Ernest remembers most vividly is the opportunity to learn from accomplished Black men who took a genuine interest in their development.
Two mentors left particularly strong impressions. Mentor James Duke carried himself with the confidence and discipline of someone accustomed to leading others, while Steve Jefferson demonstrated a different, equally valuable quality: the ability to connect with people through humor and understanding without compromising his expectations.
“Being around men who looked like me and seeing the different ways they led made a real impression,” Ernest recalled. “Mr. Duke showed us the importance of carrying yourself with confidence and knowing what needs to be done. Mr. Jefferson showed me that you can be serious about your responsibilities and still meet people where they are. I learned something from both of them.”
Ernest spent much of his adolescence in scouting and eventually earned the rank of Eagle Scout. For his Eagle Scout service project, he installed a stormwater drainage system at a church to help address flooding, an experience that required him to organize resources, solve problems, and complete work that would benefit others.
The Beautillion added another dimension to his understanding of leadership. Through conversations with mentors and fellow participants, he gained confidence in communicating with others, working through challenges, and recognizing when to lean on the people around him for support. He also began to appreciate the importance of making those same experiences available to other young people. That commitment has become central to his work today.
Ernest and Nate now work together through Scouting America, helping increase participation among Black and Hispanic youth. Their efforts are focused on reaching families who may be unfamiliar with scouting, connecting them with available resources, and addressing obstacles that can prevent young people from participating.
Ernest knows firsthand how much a young person can gain from scouting, but he also understands why some families may never consider it. Information about local programs doesn’t always reach the communities that could benefit, and the cost of participation can be another barrier. Perhaps most importantly, young people may struggle to imagine themselves belonging to an organization when they may not always see people who look like them represented. It’s something that Ernest hopes to change through his own example.
“I want young people to look at me and see a path forward,” he said. “I’ve been through the program, I’ve earned my Eagle Scout rank, and I know what it takes. If sharing my experience helps another young person believe they can accomplish the same thing, then I want to keep having those conversations.”
For Nate, the work draws on years of experience leading through The 100. His time with Collegiate 100 taught him to navigate organizational challenges, work with others, and understand the responsibility that comes with making decisions. Those lessons now shape how he approaches reaching families and creating opportunities for young people who might otherwise be overlooked.
Ernest brings the perspective of someone who knows scouting from the inside, complemented by the lessons he learned through The Beautillion about communication, accountability, and the importance of building relationships. Together, they are working to make the path into scouting more visible and accessible, including connecting families with sponsorship opportunities that can help offset participation costs. Their work also reminds us how much influence a single introduction can have.
Someone encouraged Nate to become involved with The 100, where he discovered opportunities that eventually led him into leadership. Members of Ernest’s church introduced him to Beautillion, placing him among men whose examples continue to influence how he approaches his responsibilities today. Neither could have known exactly where those experiences would lead.
“When I think about the men who mentored me, I hope they’d be proud that I’m taking what I learned and using it to help somebody else,” Ernest said. “They showed us what it means to lead and serve our communities. Now we have an opportunity to carry that forward.”
For Kinchen, seeing Nate continue that work is especially rewarding. The student he met years ago has become a professional whose responsibilities now include helping other young people find their own opportunities to grow. Ernest’s journey reflects a similar commitment, shaped by years in scouting and strengthened by the men who invested in him through Beautillion.
Today, the two are working to reach young people who may not yet recognize what they can achieve. Some will discover new interests or develop the confidence to take on responsibilities they once found intimidating. Others may find mentors whose encouragement stays with them well into adulthood.
And years from now, Nate and Ernest may find themselves watching those same young people take the lessons they’ve learned and put them to work for someone else. Just as the men of The 100 once did for them.