About Us
We help your child find hope by providing a place to belong so they can breakthrough, achieve excellence, and make an impact.
WHAT WE DO
Founded in 2013, Empower ME Academy provides a holistic training experience. Student-Leaders develop better basketball skills — and in addition, improve their attitude, commitment, and discipline. Ultimately, our Student-Leaders become well-rounded leaders and adults, successful on the court and in life.
Mission
To unlock each young human's leadership potential for a lifetime of achievement and meaningful impact—in sports and life.
Vision
Sports becomes the ultimate magnet to attract ALL kids and young humans, while creating the safe-haven environment that optimally enables the development of leadership skills for life through the process of self-actualization. After graduating, these leaders will carry a framework for being a positive and productive member of society through their own unique expression of what it means to be a good person.
Our culture
EMA’s culture defines us. It is what we stand for and value as an ecosystem of people pursuing a shared mission. It is the powerful force that guides the way we work together, treat each other, and treat those around us.
EMA’s culture is our differentiator, and when it comes to life, it is our competitive advantage.
The following values create EMA’s culture of family—our superpower.
(4) CORE VALUES
Trust
Nothing is more valuable to us than the trust we cultivate with our families, team, and everyone in our ecosystem. We earn this trust through our professionalism, honesty, transparency, excellence in customer service, and asking for feedback.
Relationships
Relationships are the fabric of EMA. We create powerful relationships by cultivating raving fans, not clients, and by treating people better than they expect by exceeding their expectations. If our families, partners, and team are raving about us, then we have achieved our goal. We’ll ALWAYS value people and our relationships over profits.
Integrity
Always tell the truth. We believe that nothing is more important than our reputation—behaving with the highest levels of integrity is fundamental to who we are.
Inclusion
Working with people of different backgrounds, cultures, demographics, and thinking styles helps us grow into better professionals and leaders. We accept people as part of the EMA community when their intentions and heart align with wanting to become a good person and positively promote others' journey. We recognize and acknowledge that people are at different starting points. This means that each person is unique. However, we do not align with malintent or intentional hate that is counter to this intention.
(7) Leadership BEHAVIORS
We Develop L.E.A.D.E.R.S.
Listening
Listen with ears to hear you. Listen with eyes to see you. Listen with heart to connect with you.
Empathetic
Seek genuine connections by understanding the needs of others and being aware of their feelings, thoughts, and body language.
Accountable
Embrace mistakes to become your best version.
Daring
Engage every challenge with courage and enthusiasm by taking risks without fearing failure.
Energy-giving
Raise the confidence of others by making people feel good about themselves—every day.
Resilient
Bounce back stronger from setbacks with hope and optimism.
Self-less
Prioritize WE over me.
(4) EXPERIENCES
Positive outlook
At all levels of the organization, we exemplify our values. What we expect from each other and our students—we see the best in everyone.
Passion
We are grateful that we have a job that feels more like a life’s purpose.
Bold
We embrace going beyond our comfort zone.
Mindfulness
Our ethos gives everyone the enthusiasm and safe space to think — to be present — leading to mental agility, resilience and self-awareness.
Access and Inclusion Story
From the very first day EMA started its operations, the organization has prioritized access and inclusion. Since 2014, EMA has awarded over $500,000 in tuition assistance to over 100 student-athletes’ in need. Currently, 20% of its students receive assistance.
2014
$2,000 awarded
5 students
2015
$40,000 awarded
20 recipients
2016
$76,000 awarded
40 recipients
2017
$110,000 awarded
50 recipients
2018
$120,000 awarded
75 recipients
2019
$80,000 awarded
40 recipients
2020
$50,00 awarded
43 recipients
2021
$36,000 awarded
26 recipients
Our Founder’s Story
Coach Jerome Gumbs leads a healthy lifestyle that revolves around making sure each Student-Athlete gets the support they need to succeed on the court and in life. The responsibility he carries in doing so is his greatest privilege.
READ HIS FULL STORYARE YOU
ENROLLED?
APPLY TODAY
Ready to join the
Empower ME Academy?
Awesome. We’re about something bigger than basketball. And we want you to be a part of it.
For our son Maddox, Empower ME has been the best and most important academic or athletic after school program.
Stephen Davis
Father of Maddox Davis
(HS Class of 2021)
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
Learn, grow, and grab first dibs on what we offer. Get our Empowering News (E-NEWS) — written by Coach Gumbs and the EMA Team — every month.
In a recent interview with Authority Magazine (@medium), Coach Gumbs spoke about how social enterprise organizations can pave the way for high-impact philanthropy.
In this conversation with @KarenMangia, Coach covered everything from his journey building EMA from scratch to the importance of leadership and putting the right team behind your mission.
Read the link in our bio!
—
#empowermeacademy #authoritymagazine #nonprofit #philanthropy #leadership #ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #leaders #empowerus
Silence and stillness can be scary for children in a distracted modern world, but it can be profoundly beneficial.
When they learn how to slow down and let go, they realize the miracle of their intuition.
Sign up for the best gift: Holiday Clinics, DEC 19-23 at the Palace of Fine Arts.
See you there! 👋🏽
#flashbackfriday #ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #leaders #investinchildren #youthbasketball #empowerus #stillness #gratitude #silence #intuition
The giving continues this #ThankfulThursday — We are so grateful to those who have donated, volunteered, and supported EMA. Our work would not be possible without you!
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! From now until December 31st, every $1 donated will be matched by a generous donor until we reach our $60,000 goal!
Donate using the link in our bio!
—
#thankfulthursday #ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #donate #givingtuesday #sharingiscaring #leaders #investinchildren #youthbasketball #doubleyourimpact #empowerus
In a recent interview with Authority Magazine (@medium), Coach Gumbs spoke about how social enterprise organizations can pave the way for high-impact philanthropy.
In this conversation with @KarenMangia, Coach covered everything from his journey building EMA from scratch to the importance of leadership and putting the right team behind your mission.
Read the link in our bio!
—
#empowermeacademy #authoritymagazine #nonprofit #philanthropy #leadership #ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #leaders #empowerus
Silence and stillness can be scary for children in a distracted modern world, but it can be profoundly beneficial.
When they learn how to slow down and let go, they realize the miracle of their intuition.
Sign up for the best gift: Holiday Clinics, DEC 19-23 at the Palace of Fine Arts.
See you there! 👋🏽
#flashbackfriday #ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #leaders #investinchildren #youthbasketball #empowerus #stillness #gratitude #silence #intuition
The giving continues this #ThankfulThursday — We are so grateful to those who have donated, volunteered, and supported EMA. Our work would not be possible without you!
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! From now until December 31st, every $1 donated will be matched by a generous donor until we reach our $60,000 goal!
Donate using the link in our bio!
—
#thankfulthursday #ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #donate #givingtuesday #sharingiscaring #leaders #investinchildren #youthbasketball #doubleyourimpact #empowerus
It’s #GivingTuesday! Will you help us ensure all children have the chance to play basketball, build confidence and develop leadership skills?
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! From now until December 31st, every $1 donated will be matched by a generous donor until we reach our $60,000 goal!
Donate using the link in our bio!
—
#ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #donate #givingtuesday #sharingiscaring #leaders #investinchildren #youthbasketball #doubleyourimpact #empowerus
Mark your calendars! November 29th is #GivingTuesday — a global day of generosity! Will you help us ensure all children have the chance to play basketball, build confidence and develop leadership skills?
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! From now till DEC 31st, every $1 donated will be matched by a generous donor until we reach our $60,000 goal!
Use the link in bio to donate!
—
#ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #donate #givingtuesday #sharingiscaring #leaders #investinchildren #youthbasketball #doubleyourimpact #empowerus
🚨Breaking🚨 Our Thanksgiving clinics on our new courts and hoops were lit. 🔥💫
Registration for our #HolidayClinics is NOW open. ⚡🏀
Link to register in the bio too.👆
Burnout can happen to any athlete, including those participating in youth sports. ⛹️
In the new episode of Raising Runners podcast, hosted by @meraki_run_club_kids coach Tori Williams, @coach_gumbs talked about the signs of burnout, what parents and coaches can do to support their children and why youth sports programs must be a healthy environment for growth. ⚡️
Link in bio to Listen! 🎧
In a recent interview with Authority Magazine (@medium), Coach Gumbs spoke about how social enterprise organizations can pave the way for high-impact philanthropy.
In this conversation with @KarenMangia, Coach covered everything from his journey building EMA from scratch to the importance of leadership and putting the right team behind your mission.
Read the link in our bio!
—
#empowermeacademy #authoritymagazine #nonprofit #philanthropy #leadership #ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #leaders #empowerus
Silence and stillness can be scary for children in a distracted modern world, but it can be profoundly beneficial.
When they learn how to slow down and let go, they realize the miracle of their intuition.
Sign up for the best gift: Holiday Clinics, DEC 19-23 at the Palace of Fine Arts.
See you there! 👋🏽
#flashbackfriday #ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #leaders #investinchildren #youthbasketball #empowerus #stillness #gratitude #silence #intuition
The giving continues this #ThankfulThursday — We are so grateful to those who have donated, volunteered, and supported EMA. Our work would not be possible without you!
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! From now until December 31st, every $1 donated will be matched by a generous donor until we reach our $60,000 goal!
Donate using the link in our bio!
—
#thankfulthursday #ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #donate #givingtuesday #sharingiscaring #leaders #investinchildren #youthbasketball #doubleyourimpact #empowerus
It’s #GivingTuesday! Will you help us ensure all children have the chance to play basketball, build confidence and develop leadership skills?
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! From now until December 31st, every $1 donated will be matched by a generous donor until we reach our $60,000 goal!
Donate using the link in our bio!
—
#ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #donate #givingtuesday #sharingiscaring #leaders #investinchildren #youthbasketball #doubleyourimpact #empowerus
Mark your calendars! November 29th is #GivingTuesday — a global day of generosity! Will you help us ensure all children have the chance to play basketball, build confidence and develop leadership skills?
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! From now till DEC 31st, every $1 donated will be matched by a generous donor until we reach our $60,000 goal!
Use the link in bio to donate!
—
#ema #empowerme #empowered #empowermeacademy #liveempowered #donate #givingtuesday #sharingiscaring #leaders #investinchildren #youthbasketball #doubleyourimpact #empowerus
🚨Breaking🚨 Our Thanksgiving clinics on our new courts and hoops were lit. 🔥💫
Registration for our #HolidayClinics is NOW open. ⚡🏀
Link to register in the bio too.👆
Burnout can happen to any athlete, including those participating in youth sports. ⛹️
In the new episode of Raising Runners podcast, hosted by @meraki_run_club_kids coach Tori Williams, @coach_gumbs talked about the signs of burnout, what parents and coaches can do to support their children and why youth sports programs must be a healthy environment for growth. ⚡️
Link in bio to Listen! 🎧
#ShoutoutSaturday To the Hall of Famer, Bill Cartwright, for ALWAYS making time to speak to children. Especially students from EMA. 💫
Swipe right to hear what Bill had to say about The Academy. ⚡️
🚨BREAKING🚨 If you wear EMA apparel to a USF basketball game (men or women), you will get your photo taken by the fantastic @chrismleungphoto
UPDATE: SIGN UP NOW for the BEST #2022Thanksgiving clinic for children @palaceoffinearts on our new floors with pro hoops—🔗 in bio.
#thankfulthursday It gives us great JOY to announce another NEW member to the EMA’s energy-giving coaching/mentoring Team— @_letig.
#funfacts
🔘1st Woman on @warriors Coaching Staff (Video Room)
🔘Former Dir. of Player Development for @calwbball
🔘Played in college and Pro-Am
🔘Beat @klaythompson at a game of 'horse'
Favorite quote: “We can always kind of be average and do what's normal. I'm not in this to do what's normal." Kobe Bryant
Please show 💌 by commenting below.👇📝
Don't forget to follow her too.
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