Founder

The Origin of Urban Graduates

The spark for Urban Graduates came during a profound moment of reflection. As an older adult returning to college, standing on the verge of graduation, I found myself looking back at the road I had traveled.

When I looked at the peers I grew up with, the reality was stark: many were incarcerated, many had passed away, and others remained trapped in a state of limbo—not due to a lack of potential, but due to a devastating lack of resources and guidance. Yet, there I was, preparing to cross the stage.

In that moment, I was overwhelmed by a deep sense of gratitude and duty. I realized I hadn't made it there alone. I was there because of the mentorship, structure, and unwavering support of good men who refused to let me fall through the cracks.

That was my "aha" moment. It crystalized a powerful truth: individuals from challenging urban environments can "graduate" from more than just school. With the right support, they can graduate from limiting mindsets, crushing circumstances, and systemic lack into a life of abundance. True abundance, however, is not achieved in isolation—it is cultivated through community.

Driven by this realization, I began a mission to recreate the very ecosystem that saved and elevated me. Urban Graduates was born to be that definitive bridge, ensuring that the environment that held me up is accessible to everyone striving for a better tomorrow.

Gerard Watson

Founder & Executive Director, Urban Graduates

Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, behavioral and mental health specialist Gerard Watson intimately understands the transformative power of mentorship—because mentorship saved his life. Following a personal tragedy that thrust him prematurely into manhood, it was the dedicated men in his community who stepped in, helping him navigate deep uncertainty and training him to become an upright, service-driven leader.

Driven by a desire to pay that investment forward, Gerard earned his B.A. in Africana Studies with a concentration in Gender Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). He immediately put his degree into action, serving as a residential counselor for a local Level 3 behavioral health facility for displaced youth. Recognizing the systemic gaps facing students, he later pivoted his expertise to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), where he worked as a Behavior Modification Technician. Throughout the pandemic, Gerard expanded his advocacy, deepening his commitment to creating equitable learning environments rooted in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies where both youth and adults could process, heal, and thrive.

Today, Gerard is channeling his years of frontline experience into the ultimate vision for Urban Graduates: establishing a holistic, place-based, "cradle-to-career" organization. Under his leadership, the initiative is expanding to provide cutting-edge programs, technical skills—including AI training—and comprehensive mentorship. By equipping young men with high-level emotional intelligence and modern digital literacy, Gerard is building a sustainable pipeline designed to break systemic cycles and unlock true economic mobility.

Where we are today

The Urban Graduates program is designed to increase the retention and graduation rates of minority and underrepresented males. The central goal is to help minority and underrepresented males matriculate through their high school, collegiate, career and produce graduates with high academic achievement and preparedness for post-graduate life. Urban Graduates will also create a brotherhood among its participants that supports and expects excellence academically, socially and professionally.

2017 Graduation

2018 Graduation

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