By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.   – Proverbs 11:14

Business owner Jackie Mayfield and Rev. Larry Anderson have something in common: they were mentors to author, mental health expert and founder of Miles Away Mentoring Gregory D. Anderson Jr.

Anderson, formerly of Orange, is starting a worldwide movement across the country with Miles Away Mentoring.

The non-profit organization was formed to honor the memory of Lamondre Deon Miles who leaves behind three precious children as a result of an unfortunate homicide.  He passed away at 35 years of age in 2013 while many young men aren’t living to see beyond their twenties, according to a press release.

“I am starting in my own backyard by starting in Orange,” Anderson said during a phone interview. “We had a community center and the YMCA when I was there. We want programs for the youth so they have something to do other than get into trouble. We at least had access to the center.”

Anderson recalls speaking with his friend Miles for the last time before his untimely death.

“He was talking about a Hot Spot idea for good friends to come together,” Anderson said. “I used his idea but to use mentoring to stop the craziness.”

Every month, the organization plans to be in a new location.

Saturday, it will be here in Orange.

Take Control of Your Emotions will be presented at 11 a.m. Saturday at Orange Public Library located at 220 5^th Street in Orange. Special guest will be Kymora Simone.

The movement will apply Texas Anger Managers model called CORE, which teaches Communication, Order, Resilience and Emotional Intelligence a proven behavior transformational study, which began in 2006, has made its debut in January of 2018 along with Miles Away Mentoring developed by Anderson.

Anderson added he quotes Proverbs 11:14 because one advisor cannot do it all but he is staying the course.

“As long as one is in a bubble, hearing someone’s door was kicked in will not have an impact on you,” Anderson said. “It should impact you when someone’s door is kicked in. There are better ways to handle it.”

Texas Anger Managers and other organizations are partnering to change life as we see it brought to unwarranted endings locally and worldwide, according to a press release.  Miles Away Mentoring is committed to mentoring year round in order to restore hope in our youth, teens, young men and women for completely healthier lifestyles.

To learn more, attend the two-hour event on Saturday.