Knowledgeable - Move with intent - never back down - life is a gift -

Knowledgeable - Move with intent - never back down - life is a gift -

Logo of Sons of Sophistication, featuring a circular design with a purple border, a central compass needle, and the text 'Sons of Sophistication' encircling the needle.

helping raise

sons to 
leaders

Support our mission to build a brighter future for tomorrows leaders. Everything helps empower young men with opportunities for growth.

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Your giving goes to

  • ✽

    Programming Materials

  • ✽

    Food for Sessions

  • ✽

    Experiential Learning & Cultural Experiences

  • ✽

    College Tours & Test Prep Materials

  • ✽

    Field Trips

  • ✽

    Scholarships for Graduating Seniors

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Parent Testimonies

A young boy sitting on a metal bench outdoors, smiling, wearing a white shirt, black pants, and white sneakers. There are houses, parked cars, and a chain-link fence in the background, with trees and power lines under a clear sky.

“Zaybrion’s confidence has risen tremendously since he joined SOS. HE mentioned that he hopes to be a mentor in the future.”

Daja Gardiner, Current Mentee’s Mother

Two boys with dark skin standing in an art gallery, looking at framed artwork on the wall.

“Julian looks forward to coming even if his actions don’t always express his gratitude. He has developed a sense of brotherhood especially living in a house of women. Thank you for the encouragement and opportunity to see manhood.”

Laura Biley, 2024 Mentee’s Mother

Two men standing on a rooftop with a city skyline in the background, smiling at the camera. One is wearing a white shirt and gray pants, and the other is wearing a white t-shirt and gray sweatpants.

“Thanks for the positive impact on my son's life. I am thankful for the intervention during a challenging time in his life.”

Tondalayo Hall, 2025 Graduate’s Mother

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We currently operate weekly sessions in Houston’s historic Third Ward, serving boys from the surrounding neighborhood, and Central and Southeast Houston. The mentees we serve are between the ages of 13 and 18 years old, 70% involved with either the juvenile or foster care system, and 83% are economically disadvantaged. This past year the number of referrals we’ve received, mentees registered, and mentees we’ve retained have all doubled. Our small team works tirelessly to ensure that we provide intentional and holistic mentorship for our mentees. Your donation works to close the opportunity gap for the mentees engaged in SOS programming.

7 Core Values

  • Visionary Goal Setting

    Members will learn to envision their futures and to make clear connections between their current behaviors, attitudes, and values to their vision. 

  • Self-determination

    Members will learn the importance of focus and perseverance for reaching one’s goals while facing self-defeating feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that can become obstacles or barriers to goal attainment.

  • Presentation

    Members will learn the necessary skills to dress for success, understanding the importance of the world’s perception of them, and how to properly carry themselves in any setting. 

  • Accountability

    Members will learn how to take ownership of their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors while also learning that a man does not project or put blame onto others for the consequences of his own bad decisions. 

  • Integrity

    Members will learn to identify their core values, reflect on their actions, and understand the importance of ensuring that the two align in every space that they enter. 

  • Positive Emotion Expression

    Members will learn how to identify and face their traumas, pain, and faulty thinking patterns that cause them to act in destructive manners.

  • Respect for women

    Members will dissect their personal views towards women and relationships, and taught how to leverage their position to, not only empower, but value the women in their lives.

About Our Program

We believe young men of today can work to improve all these values.

  • Sessions occur on Saturdays from 11am - 2pm.

    Outside of these sessions, there are opportunities for mentees to be assigned a mentor who will meet with them on a monthly basis

  • Sons of Sophistication prides itself on providing programming free of charge to the families we serve. Thank you to our dedicated sponsors, community supports, and donors for helping us make this happen.

  • Customized Curriculum and Instruction: Programming is curated to the needs of our mentees and promotes mentee’s growth in social, emotional, prosocial, and academic/career development.

    Opportunities to be paired with a mentor: SOS operates in a manner where sessions are structured in a group mentorship setting. Mentees can be paired with a mentor who meets with them outside of session time and supports them towards their goals.

    Complimentary Laptop Access: If programming is needed, SOS provides laptops to support mentee’s needs.

    Connection to resources and service providers: During the intake process, a needs assessment is conducted to establish what supports SOS can provide for the family vs those that require a referral to one of our partners.

  • Saturday sessions are hosted in the Third Ward. SOS typically services youth in the surrounding areas (between Sunnyside and Fifth Ward).

    Families outside of the service areas can be a part of programming, however, we are unable to support with transportation concerns.

  • Sons of Sophistication serves Black and Brown young men ages 14–18 and their families in Houston’s Third Ward, Fifth Ward, and Southwest communities.

  • Mentors are predominately Black and Brown men between the ages of 18-35 who reside in the Houston, TX area.

    Mentors must be able to pass a background check.

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