“It’s not hard work.
It’s heart work.”
SpeakUPZee Community was created with one mission — to meet people where they are and create real change in the lives of youth, families, and communities.
From the beginning, the goal was to move with purpose and flexibility, without being limited by the traditional nonprofit structure. That freedom has allowed SpeakUPZee to build authentic partnerships with schools, churches, organizations, and community leaders — all focused on one thing: impact.
Through consistent outreach, mentorship, and community-driven initiatives, SpeakUPZee addresses some of the most pressing challenges we face today — including youth development, emotional regulation, mental health, and access to opportunity. Whether it’s inside classrooms, on the court, or in the community, the work is rooted in real relationships and real results.
To date, SpeakUPZee has impacted 150,000+ youth, families, and community members through a combination of in-person programs, school partnerships, speaking engagements, and digital outreach. What started as local initiatives has grown into a platform that reaches and influences people across the country.
SpeakUP
SpeakOUT
Summer
Youth Mentoring Program
SpeakUPSpeakOUT is our youth mentoring program that has been established since the year 2016 taking students from all walks of life and sharpening their life and leadership skills through the power of entrepreneurship and various forms of art such as poetry, speaking, creative writing, and more.
Zee’s Detailing
Zee’s Detailing is one of the newly developed apprenticeship programs where we hire young men and women primarily of color and ensure they have employment, resources, and also learn valuable life skills and strengthen their entrepreneurship spirit. The goal here is to help our clients’ vehicle reach their full potential while also surrounding our youth with caring mentors to ensure they do the same.
During COVID-19, our community team has served the less fortunate, men, women, and children for 20+ weeks to ensure no one goes without resources during them unsure times.
Our program and Initiatives.
Basketball & Life Mentorship with Coach Zee
Our Basketball & Life Mentorship Program, led by Coach Zee, is designed to develop young athletes both on and off the court. Through 1:1 and small group training, mentorship, and leadership development, we instill the fundamentals of basketball while teaching essential life skills.
We proudly partner with the nationally renowned Arkansas Hawks and collaborate with the City of Little Rock’s recreational leagues, with aspirations to grow within the ranks while continuing to serve and empower youth. Our mission is to equip young athletes with discipline, teamwork, confidence, and real-world skills that translate beyond basketball.
Operation Save Our City
Operation Save Our City: this is one of our more recent initiatives in partnership with Geyer Springs United Methodist Church here in our hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas. This a mobile contactless food pantry where we serve on average 200+ plus families each week to ensure no family or person goes hungry or without especially during these unsure times.
Warming Up The Rock
Warming Up the Rock: this is one of the more seasoned community initiatives that we have hosted for each of the last 5 years. This initiative is designed for us to provide the less fortunate men, women, and children of our community with the necessary resources and food during the harsh winter month to simply survive. However, in this upcoming sixth year, the vision is much bigger to not only help our community but sustain them. This program in the near future will create more jobs, opportunities, eliminate homelessness, and truly save our city.