Linking Passion and Purpose: Fard Morales’ Path to Empowering Youth

North Carolina ranks 42nd for the prevalence of mental illness among youth and 38th for access to care among the 50 states. Inner Explorer addresses this crisis in youth mental health by providing age-appropriate, guided daily practices for use in school communities. It focuses on cultivating self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and resilience, empowering students in the classroom and beyond. 

From the Court to the Classroom: Fard Morales’ Leadership Journey

Basketball has remained important throughout Fard Morales’ life. His mother ensured that he and his siblings were able to get into good programs and he took part in afterschool programs, school sports, and community events. His first basketball coach taught him the importance of teamwork and team building. His first leadership role was as team captain, “The team is now following you, not just on the court, but also following you from your behavior, from your classwork, from how you present yourself.” Fard emphasizes communication and networking as keys to success. Being in different rooms provides more resources and exposure to people with different life stories and experiences. Fard played through college and took a job as a YMCA sports director in Charlotte. His love of sports went hand in hand with his desire to empower students, “They needed to see someone of their same stature, their same background in these positions to help them change.” 

This extensive sports experience solidified the importance of mental health, something he was not personally aware of until his junior year of high school. When a role at Inner Explorer came to him, “it was kind of like a light bulb went off because it’s like now I can link two things that I genuinely care about: mental health and sports.” Working at IE gave him the opportunity to give this knowledge to the youth. When taking care of mental health becomes a habit, people gain the ability to deal with stress and build resilience in a healthy way. As Charlotte continues to grow, the school system is facing a shortfall of space. The growth and transition creates new stressors for students, impacting their ability to perform well in school. Fard emphasizes the importance of mental health and healthy coping skills in new situations. 

Leadership involves both demonstration and the ability to learn and apply what you have learned. As one moves up in leadership circles race becomes exceedingly visible. “Once we get into the high, I call it the C suite. So once we get into the CEOs, CEOs and the regional directors, you don’t see a lot of men of color in those high caliber titles.” Within this cultural environment, Fard has a chance to “be in that position to show young Black males how to be a positive role model and… how you can actually succeed.” 

Fard Morales’ journey from a young basketball player to a community leader highlights the connection between sports, mental health, and representation. His experiences on and off the court have shaped his belief in the importance of leadership, resilience, and visibility—especially for young Black men. Through his role at Inner Explorer, Fard works to empower youth, promote mental wellness, and create access to opportunities. His story is not just one of personal growth, but a call to action: to invest in our communities, lead by example, and ensure that the next generation has the tools and support they need to thrive.