Born in the shadows of the Ida B. Wells Housing projects on Chicago’s South Side, Dr. Vondale Eugene Singleton Sr. knows what it means to rise through adversity. Losing his mother to crack cocaine and navigating high school with an incarcerated father, his early life could have set him on a tragic trajectory. But instead, Dr. Singleton chose a different path—one paved by faith, mentorship, and the power of education. Today, as the founder and CEO of the CHAMPS Male Mentoring Program, he’s helping thousands of young men chart their own courses to success, proving that struggle can indeed birth strength.
Dr. Singleton’s journey is deeply personal—and universally resonant. As a first-generation college graduate with a Master’s in Marital and Family Therapy, he transformed his pain into purpose. His own mentor, Steven Robertson, poured into his life at a pivotal moment, modeling the transformative power of belief and support. It’s that same life-giving mentorship that drives Dr. Singleton’s work with CHAMPS, where boys and young men—often facing generational trauma—find hope, structure, and a brotherhood rooted in purpose.
Joining Voices on Paper Global was a natural extension of Dr. Singleton’s mission. “I knew this platform was different,” he says. “It wasn’t just about writing; it was about revealing—sharing our truths so others can heal.” For Dr. Singleton, storytelling is a vehicle for redemption and social change. “When I write, I remember the young boy I was—lost, angry, misunderstood. I write to speak to him, and to others like him, in every part of the world.”
His work tackles global issues such as generational poverty, systemic racism, and the broken structures that fail boys of color. Through CHAMPS, Dr. Singleton has built a scalable model of mentorship that transcends borders. His White House recognition and Emmy-nominated documentary are testaments to the resonance of his message across communities and continents.
“Authenticity is everything,” he explains. “Whether I’m mentoring in Chicago or speaking internationally, I don’t water down my story. I carry the same truth everywhere: salvation plus education is an unbeatable combination.”
To emerging global authors, Dr. Singleton offers this: “Your pain is not a period—it’s a comma. Don’t be afraid to write from the wounds. That’s where the healing begins.” He sees authors as cultural connectors—people who can shift global perspectives by humanizing issues and amplifying unheard voices.
Dr. Singleton’s writing style is deeply influenced by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose legacy he honors through action. Like King, Singleton merges activism and authorship, turning lived experience into literature that stirs hearts and mobilizes minds.
With the help of technology, he has taken CHAMPS’ message worldwide—leveraging platforms like Voices on Paper Global to engage diverse audiences, share tools for community transformation, and spark conversations that matter. “Mentorship saved my life. Now, I use every platform—whether a classroom, a pen, or a camera—to save others.”
In every sense, Dr. Singleton is not just mentoring young men. He’s mentoring a movement—one word, one voice, one life at a time.
About Dr. Vondale Singleton
Dr. Vondale Eugene Singleton Sr. is the Founder and CEO of CHAMPS Male Mentoring Program, a nationally recognized initiative that empowers young men through education, mentorship, and life skills. A South Side Chicago native, Dr. Singleton is a first-generation college graduate who earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and an M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy. His leadership has garnered numerous accolades, including an invitation to the White House and two Emmy nominations. He serves as a powerful advocate for youth, equity, and social transformation through his writing, public speaking, and nonprofit leadership. Dr. Singleton lives in Chicago with his wife, Dr. Patrina Singleton, and their two children, where he continues to inspire and uplift through faith, service, and storytelling.
