Our Founding Story
Concerned Citizens.
Collective Purpose.
"Men of Industry was founded by a group of concerned citizens — entrepreneurs, professionals, and advocates — who believe in building power through unity."
We saw neighborhoods struggling — not for lack of talent, not for lack of will, but for lack of organization. We saw men with skills, resources, and drive operating in isolation when they could be operating as a force.
So we built the infrastructure to bring them together. We created pathways for knowledge to flow, for resources to be shared, and for collective action to replace individual struggle.
Our mission is clear: to stabilize and strengthen neighborhoods by educating, organizing, and mobilizing resources. We work to create pathways of opportunity, and we refuse to accept that any community should be left behind.
Mission
What We Do
To stabilize and strengthen neighborhoods by educating, organizing, and mobilizing resources — creating pathways of opportunity and refusing to accept that any community should be left behind.
Vision
What We Build Toward
A nation where every neighborhood is stable, every man has access to opportunity, and organized communities have the power to determine their own futures — free from neglect, free from exploitation, and full of possibility.
Core Values
The P.O.W.E.R. Principles
Purpose
Everything we do is driven by a clear, collective purpose: to build stronger communities and create lasting pathways of opportunity.
Ownership
We take ownership of our communities, our futures, and our outcomes. We do not wait for others to solve what we can address ourselves.
Work Ethic
We believe in doing the hard work — consistently, without shortcuts — because real change is built through sustained effort and discipline.
Excellence
We hold ourselves to the highest standards in everything we do. Excellence is not a goal — it is a minimum expectation.
Responsibility
We are accountable to our communities, our members, and each other. Responsibility is the foundation of trust and collective progress.
Leadership
Our Leadership Team
James A. Williams
Founder & Executive Director
Marcus D. Thompson
Director of Programs
Robert E. Carter
Director of Organizing
David L. Johnson
Director of Membership
FAQ