Donate To TRMSC

The Real Men Speak Collective was born from a powerful phone conversation between childhood friends Khalil Scott and Gerald Thomas, both new fathers at the time. As they reminisced about the carefree days of their youth, filled with laughter, freedom, and fun, they realized how far removed adult life had become. Stress from bills, careers, family obligations, and the search for purpose had replaced the joy that once came so naturally. That three-hour call sparked an important realization: life wasn’t necessarily bad, it was just missing something vital. Fun.

The kind of fun that’s pure, spontaneous, and unfiltered. The kind you had in high school, when your biggest worry was what was happening at the lunch table, in the locker room, or on the shift with friends at your first job. The kind of fun that made life feel full. Inspired by that insight, Khalil and Gerald decided to organize a bowling event to reconnect with old friends and reignite that energy. But life got in the way. Khalil couldn’t make it. And heartbreakingly, the two would never speak again, Khalil took his own life soon after.

In Khalil’s memory, and out of a deep desire to never lose another brother to loneliness or silent suffering, Gerald founded what is now known as the Real Men Speak Collective. Its mission: to create safe spaces where men can be themselves, connect openly, and rediscover joy. Not just through conversations, but through community, brotherhood, and fun.