Thirty-six Black men walked into Kiki’s Chicken & Waffles on a recent evening in Charleston, according to BE Impactful Foundation. They came from different neighborhoods, different careers, different chapters of life. What brought them there was the M.E.N.S.S. Cave, a monthly gathering run by Deron Gadsden’s nonprofit for open conversation among Black men. The meal came from From Scratch Kitchen. The discussion, guided by community experience manager Brandon Busby-Shaw, covered the kind of territory most professional events don’t: mental health, identity, fatherhood, mutual accountability.
No prepared agenda. No guest speakers. Thirty-six men, one room.
M.E.N.S.S. stands for Mastering Empowerment ‘N Secure Spaces. The Cave grew from what the foundation identifies as a practical gap. Few dependable spaces exist, by its account, where Black men from different walks of life can discuss personal challenges and accountability without a formal structure shaping what gets said. The program began in Houston, where BE Impactful Foundation developed its early programming, before being established in Charleston, where it now runs monthly.
The program operates around three related ideas. Connection is the starting point: consistent monthly sessions where men have enough time together to build real relationships rather than surface introductions. Growth follows from that, through peer dialogue and an expectation of candor. Impact is the longer aim, channeling those relationships into mentorship, visible community leadership, and service in Charleston.
Participation is designed to deepen over time. Men attend monthly sessions and stay active between them through an ongoing group called MENSS Cave Connect, which keeps the network going through peer check-ins and shared activities. Over time, participants take on more active roles, co-facilitating discussions, organizing events, eventually moving into mentorship within the group. The foundation describes the Cave as early infrastructure for a wider community network.
Deron Gadsden grew up in North Charleston. He studied electrical engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University before earning an MBA from Louisiana State University, then spent years in project management and consulting in Houston before turning his attention fully to the nonprofit. BE Impactful Foundation now runs chapters in both cities, each with a local team.
The foundation’s programs extend beyond the Cave. A back-to-school drive, a self-care forum, and a literary initiative called Black Literature Matters are among the recurring offerings. Community service work runs under what the organization calls its BEnevolence movement.
The Impact Scholarship adds a second lane of investment. Focused on high school seniors in the Greater Charleston area, the award looks for students who have demonstrated academic commitment and community involvement. The foundation launched it in 2024 with two $500 awards, according to the organization, and grew it to two $1,000 scholarships in 2025. That cycle recognized Ciara Whitfield, a Charleston County School of the Arts graduate now studying elementary education at Furman University, and Leon Collins, a Fort Dorchester alumnus enrolled in computer engineering at North Carolina A&T State University. By the foundation’s account, the 2026 scholarships have already been distributed.
Local Black-owned businesses have supported the program financially. Sweetgrass Dental Associates, From Scratch Kitchen, and Champions Phate are among the community partners Gadsden and the foundation credit with helping fund the scholarship.
At the most recent Cave session, From Scratch Kitchen again provided the food. Thirty-six men showed up. The foundation says it will hold a seat for them next month.
