PHILADELPHIA — On a Saturday afternoon at Penn’s Gutman College House, a group of Black boys is doing something radical. They are learning to hold a violin bow or read sheet music; preparing to sit in a PEACE circle with total strangers and to facilitate a community-building circle session to complete their rite of passage.
No conductor is there to save them if they stumble. As Jack Drummond now officially Dr. Jack Drummond puts it, “I do not help them”.
For the boys, the stakes are tangible: complete the “Rite of Passage” ceremony, and they walk away with a brand-new instrument, a certificate in peacekeeping, and a $250 stipend. But for Drummond, the stakes are existential. After years of navigating City Hall bureaucracy and the halls of the Ivy League, he has come to a stark conclusion: You cannot bureaucracy your way to liberation. You have to heal your way there.
“Health is wealth… And it took me 40-plus years to learn that,” Drummond says. “I do not want young boys to be in the same predicament I was in.”
Beyond the City Hall Echo Chamber
Drummond is a familiar face in Philadelphia’s civic landscape. He famously served as the Director of the Office of Black Male Engagement under Mayor Kenney. But when asked about that time “Unfiltered,” Drummond does not mince words.
“They did not take it seriously,” Drummond admits, reflecting on the limitations of government offices to solve deep-seated community wounds. He describes an environment where the office existed largely because it was mandated by the city charter, not because the leadership at the time truly believed in the mission.
“You can not transform the challenges in our community by doing the same thing… they just keep changing the faces,” he says.
That frustration with “low vibrating spaces” fueled his pivot. He stated he would leave a room in a heartbeat if the energy were not right. “I do not even play in low vibrating spaces,” he says. “It is bad for the work that I do with people”.
The “Doctor” Will See You Now (But Do not Make It Weird)
Recently, Drummond added a new credential to his resume: a Doctorate in Education. But the road to “Dr. Drummond” was paved with grief.
“My chair… Made transition. She died,” he reveals. Shortly after, his mother passed away. He decided to restart his entire program at a new university, proving that his resilience is as academic as it is personal.
Yet, you will not hear him correcting people at the dinner table. “I am not the type of person that is gonna like, remind people, I am this,” he laughs, noting that while the title commands respect in grant applications, he prefers authentic connection over honorifics.
A New Rite of Passage
Today, Drummond’s work with men and young boys of color is housed largely under his consulting firm, Collage of Talent, and his grant-funded initiatives. His focus has shifted to what he calls the “Rite of Passage” gap.
“We seem to have lost track of that in modern Philadelphia,” he notes. Too often, Black boys in the city cross into manhood through the justice system rather than a community ceremony.
His answer is a music and mentorship program that runs for 12 to 14 weeks. It is about the violin; and it is about “MUSIC & Peacekeeping Skills.” The boys learn to resolve conflict, build community, and understand their own power.
“I think every boy transitioning into manhood should understand… How economics really is gonna play a role for the remainder of your life,” he says, emphasizing that manhood is not just about turning 18; it is about spiritual grounding and financial responsibility.
The Future is Healing
As he looks toward 2026, Drummond is expanding his reach. He is set to take over as President of the CAPA (High School for Creative and Performing Arts) Alumni Board in January 2026. But his heart remains in the circle, facilitating healing for the next generation.
“It’s all about healing,” he says simply. “We all got to be the community that we seek”.
For readers looking to connect with Dr. Drummond’s work
- The Program: West Philadelphia String Music & Mentorship
- What it offers: Free instrument, $250 stipend, Restorative Justice Certificate.
- Next Cohort: Saturdays, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
- The Consulting: Collage of Talent, LLC
- Services: Restorative justice training for medical centers, corporate conflict resolution, schools, and community groups.
- The Next Event:
- What: Community Healing Ceremony
When: Targeting March 2026.
Dr. Eric John Nzeribe is the Publisher of FunTimes Magazine and has a demonstrated history of working in the publishing industry since 1992. His interests include using data to understand and solve social issues, narrative stories, digital marketing, community engagement, and online/print journalism features. Dr. Nzeribe is a social media and communication professional with certificates in Digital Media for Social Impact from the University of Pennsylvania, Digital Strategies for Business: Leading the Next-Generation Enterprise from Columbia University, and a Master of Science (MS) in Publication Management from Drexel University and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Temple University.
