Brandon Frame: TheBlackManCan Founder Empowering Black Youth Globally
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Brandon Frame grew up in Hartford, Connecticut, and later attended Morehouse College, where he distinguished himself as a leader and community-builder.
While at Morehouse, he served as a Resident Advisor, guided a cohort of 150 young men, founded the highly successful Morehouse Marketing Association, and earned distinctions such as the Morehouse Legacy Award and Marketing Star Award in 2009.
He was also inducted into the Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society and named BP Student Leadership Scholar and INROADS New England Intern of the Year in 2008
Career & TheBlackManCan
Inspired during his sophomore year, when mentoring middle schoolers made him realize the power of representation, Brandon launched TheBlackManCan in April 2010 as a blog.
What began as a simple platform evolved into a nonprofit reaching over 10,000 Black boys and men, supported by a network of 500+ mentors, and generating 500K+ followers producing around 7 million impressions weekly.
Currently, he serves as Chief Visionary Officer of TheBlackManCan, Inc., while also working as Deputy Director of Social-Emotional Learning at The Urban Assembly.
In that role, he led improvements in school culture, reducing suspensions and expanding the Resilient Scholars program to Texas, Virginia, and California.
How He Overcame His Struggles
Brandon has been deeply candid about his personal battles with mental health. During college and early adulthood, he experienced severe depression and self-doubt, even contemplating suicide.
Fortunately, with the support of friends and professional therapy, he found healing embracing vulnerability as a powerful strength for Black men. This journey informs much of his advocacy and programming.
His Thought Leadership & Publishing
- Books: Author of Define Yourself, Redefine the World: A Guided Journal for Boys & Men of Color and the children’s book My First Tie—life-affirming works centered on identity and pride.
- Speaking & Coaching: Regular keynote speaker, including at the 2024 Fathers in Focus conference. Featured on platforms like Essence, CNN Money, Black Enterprise, and CBS – and honored as “New Yorker of the Week”.
Awards & Recognition
Brandon’s contributions have been widely recognized:
- BP Student Leadership, INROADS Intern of the Year, National Sales Network John Watson Scholar, Earl Graves/NAACP Scholar.
- Hartford Business Journal 40 Under 40, Jet Magazine 40 Under 40, Top 40 Under 40.
- Black Enterprise Modern Man of Distinction – “The Visionary”, MLK Drum Major Award, Change Maker of the Year, Ujima Award, Most Influential People of African Descent.
What Brandon Frame is Currently Doing
- He is pursuing an Ed.D. at Boston University, expanding his focus on social-emotional learning and equity.
- Recently launched the The Black Man Can Man Cave, a gathering and content hub for dialogue and growth. His fundraising campaign “Raising Kings” empowers young men with a structured journey, sponsored at just $25 each.
Brandon Frame stands at the intersection of education, mentorship, and authentic community empowerment.
He turned personal adversity into purposeful leadership, reshaping narratives about Black men and boys through emotional intelligence, storytelling, and connection.
His work has built tangible change across schools, homes, and digital spaces, breaking cycles of silence and cultivating confident, resilient future leaders.
