In June of 2014, beginning as an all-volunteer organization in the city of Kent, WA. Kendrick Glover and Sylvester Craft recognized the need to provide mentors for young men in the Kent area. Their purpose was to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline by reducing dropout rates among middle and high school male youth and young adults in South King County, WA. GEM engages youth and mentors in a three-pronged approach to prevent and reduce delinquency, school truancy, criminal activity, and other high-risk behaviors.