Meet Ihsan Hines | President and Founder of MBKCares

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ihsan Hines and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ihsan, how does your business help the community?
MBKCares helps the community by promoting mental health awareness and providing supportive programs for youth and young adults. Through initiatives like the Checkmate chess program, Clubhouse golf mentorship, and events such as Discovering Mental Wealth, we address important issues like conflict resolution, leadership, and emotional well-being. By fostering meaningful connections, mentorship, and engaging activities, MBKCares empowers individuals with tools to navigate life’s challenges and promotes a healthier, more resilient community.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a spoken word artist known as Purpose. My spoken word and poetry platforms have come from a transition from my musical career. For many years I was a recording artist and I created music to express my faith while encouraging others.
My lyrics expressed love, encouragement, wisdom, joy, and even pain that others can relate to and appreciate. I released a full length album, Purpose: The Father, on 07-07-07. This was a joyful time in my life as a young father and a rising artist. I had no idea that my life would soon take a major turn the next month when my brother died. This transition has impacted me for several years and it’s shaped the language and stories in my lyrics in significant ways. I have learned to be more sympathetic and empathetic to the journeys of other people. Music and poetry are powerful tools and when used properly, they have the power to soothe hearts and comfort during healing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Philadephia is known for several landmarks. The iconic art museum steps and the Rocky statue are staples in our city. The Liberty Bell and Love Park as well. My sanctuary is Kelly Drive. I love strolls along the riverside with the beautiful landscape. The sounds of bike shifting gears and joggers feet running over sand and gravel. The smell of flowers and fresh cut grass over a river breeze. There are wonderful statues, murals, and even graffiti art that add to the experience of a mindful stroll. I enjoy walking there alone for my own peace of mind and it’s a wonderful place to go for a conversation with others as well. After strolls through Kelly Drive, I enjoy visiting Cira Green rooftop park. An elevated view of the city with a wonderful group of people. Cira Green offers a peaceful space to just chill. They have wonderful food and drinks available and a beautiful greenspace. These are two of my favorite places to go and I encourage everyone to visit there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our organization was created in memory of my brother, Atif, who died by suicide. That part of our story is familiar, however, many of our programs since his death have been established out of necessity for my own healing journey and battles with depression. The path has revealed many allies and sources of support. One person in particular has stepped up to help me as a friend and he has pushed me towards my higher purpose. Kaloni Davis is an emmy award winning film director and more importantly, he is one of my best friends. Kaloni has invested a huge amount of time into my life the past six years. We have partnered on several programs and projects to benefit our community. His film projects have been impactful on our audiences and his expertise has added so much value to panel discussions during our events. Iron sharpens iron and Kaloni has truly been a source of support for me and MBKCares.

Website: https://www.MBKCares.com

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Image Credits
Photos courtesy TJDDN Art.