Today we’d like to introduce you to Edgar Sculark.
Hi Edgar, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am the 3rd child to the late L.A. and Evie Sculark and was born and raised in Parchman, Mississippi. L.A. Sculark was one of the first African Americans to be employed at the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Edgar was the first African American child born to an African American couple while living on the penitentiary property. I was educated in the Drew Separate School District in Drew, MS where he was very active in sports and band. After graduation, I attended Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Mississippi where my major was Criminal Justice.
Shortly after the start of my college education, I left the classroom to support a new family. I married my high school sweetheart Mashelia Kidd, and to this union, three (3) children. My greatest regret was not completing my college degree. However, that milestone helped to transition my mindset into being a big advocate for Education and Living a Purpose Driven Life. I have given 10 years in the Mississippi Army National Guard and worked 10 years with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. I also had the opportunity to cultivate his craft by being a master trainer with XPO Logistics. During this tenure with XPO Logistics, I assisted in the startup of new companies and coordinated safety trainings. Although I had a flourishing corporate career, I felt that I was neglecting my purpose. It was then that he knew something was missing and broken.
Amidst the broken, I’ve always had a desire to build. With those desires came visions of operation with his Non-Profit Organization (GEM) Greater Expectation Ministries and LLC Voice2Vision (2019). Outlined within these organizations, I ventured into different platforms that delegates the spirit of empowerment through: Mature Minded Males (MMM), Favor Filled Females (FFF), Character Chipped Children (CCC), Book & Blazers, Scholars and Skirts and The Nehemiah Grind. My ultimate goal of servitude, through both organizations and each platform, is to continue the cycle of youth and people empowerment by way of Motivational Speaking, Mentoring, Reform Misguided Conduct, and Life and Character Coaching. My areas of specialty are: Anti-Bullying, Personal Motivation and Self-Ownership.
At this point, I began transitioning into another level of building. I reached into the surrounding communities to build partnerships. As an advocate for children and people, I wanted to do all I could to assist with increasing community involvement. To that experience I added training that equipped me to adequately assist in every arena of trauma. I am a Trained Advocate of the ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Platform.
Prepped and ready to train and assist, Quitman County became my stomping grounds. I partnered with The Reclaim Project (The Village) where I also served on the board. Being so familiar with the children of Quitman County, it was in my heart to build a partnership with the Quitman County School District, where I actively participated and trained to better serve the needs of the community. I was also privileged to bridge the community and school system by becoming a member of the Quitman County Fine Arts Program where I actively served on the Board as well.
My personal cadence of inspiration is, “If you get it in your head, God will bring it out through your hands”, My purpose, passion and God’s plan are the driving forces behind my Healthy Heart to Hand dedication to children, people and community involvement. To that end, I answered my Pastoral Calling at the age of 21. Still walking in God’s Purpose Placed Plan, I served the Quitman County Community for 25 years as a Pastor.
(4) years ago, at the beginning of covid, my wife and I felt a tugging on our hearts that there was more for us to be doing so we relocated to Dallas Texas and became acclimated to the DISD school system and Mashelia operates in her calling and passion of nursing. It is with a grateful heart that I extend the same grace that God has extended to me throughout my trials, transitions and triumphs of sacrifice. Trusting God, Trusting in the process and leaning in the way God leads has been the staple of my life just as it is stated in Proverbs 3:5-6—-Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My greatest obstacles have been accepting that everyone is different, and everyone approaches life’s challenges from different angles as well as look at life through different lenses. People who have been cultivated in a healthy supported family structure normally have a positive optimistic mindset concerning overcoming challenges and obstacles whereas people who come from broken backgrounds normally struggle with facing life’s challenges.
My greatest challenge is to always have an open mind when I approach life and try not to place people in a common group because of a challenge that they may be facing at the moment. I have learned that all poetry come from the same mold, but it takes the skillful eyes of a quality auditor to recognize fracture lines or pattern inconsistencies. The purpose of the auditing process is not to pick out the bad products but rather mold integrity and process flaws. Likewise, as it pertains to people engagement, it is not to say that they are bad or good people but rather to understand what mold of life they were formed in and to show them that brokenness does not have to become a badge of honor and if we fix the mold then maybe we can adjust the minds.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As an employee, I am new to the Program Coordinator role with the Foundation for Choice brand, but I have been a community advocate for change and youth engagement advocate for more than 25 years. I have always participated in some form of youth advocacy program.
As a professional, I submerged myself into the professional arenas of life at the age of 16 when I joined the army national guard where I still carry those same morals and characteristics of being fair firm and impartial.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Without hesitation, (YES)…. It goes without saying that the answer is that I am a risk-taker. There are different types of risk, calculated and the no calculated. No great venture in life happens without risk. At the age of 47, and being lifelong citizens of Mississippi my wife and I transitioned to a state (Texas) that we had only visited and became acclimated to the culture and new friend circles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.voice2visons.com
- Instagram: edgar4134
- LinkedIn: Edgar Sculark
