Our History

Our Story

For more than a decade, our founder, Phillip Ford, has been committed to serving youth and families across Washington, D.C. Through schools, churches, summer camps, community outreach programs, and juvenile detention centers, he witnessed a recurring challenge: too many young men were growing up without consistent positive male mentorship, structured guidance, or opportunities to develop into healthy leaders.

In 2017, Phillip joined with Rob Sidel and Welton Bonner to launch The Movement Martial Arts, a youth development program that combined martial arts, mentorship, leadership training, and faith-based values. What began as a martial arts program quickly became a vehicle for transformation, helping young people build confidence, discipline, emotional resilience, and a stronger sense of purpose.

Building upon this foundation, Reach Urban Empowerment (RUE) was established in 2022 to expand this vision and address the growing need for leadership development among Black and Brown youth in Washington, D.C.

Today, RUE primarily serves Black and Brown young men ages 11–14 in Ward 7, many of whom face challenges related to identity, emotional regulation, leadership development, and the absence of consistent positive male role models. Too often, these young men are left to develop their understanding of masculinity, self-worth, and leadership through unhealthy cultural influences, social media, peer pressure, and survival-based environments. Without intentional guidance and support, many struggle with confidence, discipline, emotional control, and a clear sense of purpose.

Through our 3-D model of Development, Discipleship, and Discipline, RUE provides structured mentorship, leadership training, martial arts instruction, and transformative rites-of-passage experiences designed to help young men grow into responsible leaders within their families, schools, and communities.

Our work goes beyond teaching self-defense. We help young men develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, personal responsibility, and leadership skills that prepare them to navigate life's challenges with confidence and integrity. Through meaningful relationships with mentors, exposure to positive male leadership, and participation in structured developmental experiences, students learn what it means to lead themselves before leading others.

By partnering with families, schools, churches, and community organizations, we create a holistic support system that reinforces healthy identity formation, academic success, emotional well-being, and community engagement.

At RUE, we are not waiting for change to happen. We are investing in the next generation of leaders. We are helping young men break cycles of violence, hopelessness, and disconnection while cultivating future fathers, mentors, community leaders, and change-makers who will return to their neighborhoods stronger, wiser, and prepared to lead with courage, character, and purpose.