Ashanti, born and raised by a single mother on welfare in Oakland, California, Ashanti left a lucrative career in civil engineering when he discovered a true passion in teaching while tutoring struggling students. In 2004, as a first year teacher, Ashanti started the Ever Forward Club to provide a support group for African American and Latino males, who were not achieving to the level of their potential. Since then, The Ever Forward Club has grown to serve both young men and women and become a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Ever Forward Club has helped 100% of its members graduate high school and 93% of them have gone on to attend college. Ashanti is on a mission to change the way students interact with their education and the ways schools interact with students.