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Get To Know: Joe Tolbert
Joe Tolbert is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of iCan Mentoring and currently works as a Police Officer for the Dallas Police Department where he has been employed for 5 years. During his tenure at the DPD, Joe has always looked for ways he and his team could make a positive impact in the communities where they served. He led his team in hosting various community events, such as Back-2-School, Lead Better at Lead Better, and Christmas Extravaganzas to make a positive impact in communities. As a result of Joe’s impeccable leadership, he was awarded Officer of the Year for the Dallas Police Department Community Engagement and Operation: Nuisance Abatement– (2023).
Prior to this employment, Joe was a Special Education Teacher at Manor and Shadow Glen Elementary Schools for Manor Independent School District (ISD) located in Manor, Texas. During his employment at Manor ISD, Joe implemented a mentorship program, Young G.E.N.T.S, to help young boys strive for excellency, expose them to life changing experiences, as well as encourage them to become the gentlemen they are called to be. Joe was very passionate about helping students. As a result of his dedication, vision, and passion, Joe received an award as Rookie Teacher of the Year from Manor ISD in Manor, Texas (2017).
Joe has a strong entrepreneurial spirit that is deeply rooted in his DNA. As a youth, he began working for his father’s company, Joe’s Management Services, LLC., where he would learn key life lessons from his dad that would later be utilized to transcend the lives of many. Joe prided himself in understanding the cleaning process and how he could take these same principles and apply them to life saving methods.
Joe has an unexplainable magnetic force that draws his attention to people who need help. Over the years, he has been very passionate about helping the homeless and encouraging youth. Whether on the football field, in a classroom or at a convenience store, Joe connects with individuals who need assistance, lacks hope, or struggling with life experiences. Joe does not hesitate to feed individuals and has given the shoes off his feet to help someone along life’s journey.
Joe is an impeccable leader, who always believes – “I can achieve great things and become better if I have the right mindset.” Therefore, he maintains a positive attitude and looks for the good in every situation. He is passionate about the mission and works diligently to be successful. In order to be successful, Joe believes you must be confident, consistent, accountable, willing to collaborate, innovative, and display a strong sense of empathy for others. Traits that his mother, Cheryl Wilson, instilled in him as a young child.
Joe is a graduate of Cedar Hill High School located in Cedar Hill, Texas. He furthered his education by obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of North Texas located in Denton, Texas. He also obtained a Master of Science in Human Services Degree with a specialization in Social and Community Services from Capella University.
Joe has been happily married to his lovely wife, Christi for over 14 years. They are the proud parents of the late Jayden Moore, Jordan, Kylie, and Dylan. His family would not be complete without man’s best friends Louie and Coco. In his spare time, Joe enjoys cooking, entertaining and cleaning.
Overall, Joe’s calling is to inspire children of all ages to embrace their uniqueness, believe in themselves, take steps to become the person they are predestined to be, and possess an “I Can” for greatness mindset. Hence, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength [Philippians 4:13].
Get To Know: Christi Tolbert
Having witnessed numerous children from underserved communities feeling constrained by the belief that they must perpetuate the negative history of their surroundings, my utmost desire, alongside of my husband, Joe Tolbert, is to reach out and convey to these youths that their circumstances don’t define them. We aspire to encourage them to strive for excellence and realize that they have the power to shape their own futures.
I presently serve as a public servant at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, dedicating seven years to supporting the Intellectual Developmental Disability (IDD) community. I also possess certification as a Texas Contract Manager and hold a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
Through the years, we have dedicated our time to volunteering with churches, schools and youth clubs in underserved communities. We love introducing them to experiences that they might not have encountered otherwise. These include visits to museums, exposure to the opera, participation in back-to-school events distributing supplies, and more. We have been actively involved in events aimed at assisting the less fortunate, participating in activities such as feeding programs, donation drives, and item collection initiatives.
Get To Know: Courtney Redman
As a Parent, I want nothing more than to ensure that our Future, the Youth of Today, have all they need to be successful no matter the hurdles they may have to jump, the lifestyle they came from or the barriers holding them back. I want to see the youth not use their upbringing as a reason they cannot be successful. As a Board Member, I will do my best to collaborate closely with other Board Members to ensure the success of iCan Mentoring. Will help establish strategic partnerships with government agencies and community-based organizations to leverage resources and achieve common objectives. Facilitate coalition-building efforts to address challenges and promote collective action for change. I have been involved with youth sports since 2002, when my oldest son started playing.
I quickly realized that sports would become our family. I have seen kids from all backgrounds and the struggles many faced. It was placed in my heart to ensure those kids knew that no matter what they would always have people cheering them on and I would always be in their corner. Many soon become my “other” children and watching them achieve the world has been a huge blessing. I have been actively volunteering with our high school organizations since 2011. I am currently the Booster Club President for our High School Athletic Trainers. Prior to this, I was the Booster Club President for our High School Softball team and held several positions as needed with the High School Football Team. I have done several fundraisers at my employer which varied from donating Gatorades and waters to our local fire departments to assist in the summer, when needing to answer the calls for lake rescues, raising funds and a donation of clothes and other items needed for the Eastland fires in 2022 to name just a few.