St. Thomas University is celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth by recognizing #STUwards who are dedicated to advancing the legacy of African Americans, and who themselves are agents of change. STU’s Student Success Advisor, Brandon Vega, is one such STUward.
St. Thomas University Student Success Advisor Brandon Vega
The Miami, FL, native grew up in a volatile home environment, leaning on friends, with the constant pull of peer pressure, and the relentless pursuit to survive his neighborhood. Determined to exist above the noise, Brandon would jot down his deepest, most intimate thoughts, which gave him an outlet to express his experiences through poetry and storytelling.
Based on his drive to inspire and develop the youth by sharing the power of resilience, perseverance and persistence, Brandon established The EATN Project, October 20, 2016. EATN is the acronym for Exist Above The Noise, and its mission is to help satisfy the hunger for success and positivity through enlightenment. Vega’s personal survival ignited his commitment to serve as a positive resource to those around him. He shares EATN’s mission, which is dedicated to the social responsibility of nourishing the minds of young people and helping them remain positive and focused in a distracting world.
“Internal and external noise are some of our greatest obstacles, and usually the loudest noise comes from within, oftentimes causing self-doubt,” Vega stated. “Learning to Exist Above The Noise (EATN) mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally is vital to remaining positive and focused.”
“Ghetto Conscious, Evolution of a Rebel” poem “Do or die”
“Ghetto Conscious, Evolution of a Rebel” by Brandon Vega
As the author of Ghetto Conscious, Evolution of a Rebel, released on December 18, 2020, the 31-year-old travels the country and uses his brilliantly written prose as the vehicle to share the deep, personal struggles of his childhood. He brings his EATN message to middle school, high school, college and university students of all races, color, and creed.
Since 2016, he has engaged with more than 10,000 male and female pre-teens, teenagers, and young adults during a myriad of 140 speaking engagements including, but not limited to, football, basketball, and volleyball camps, graduation ceremonies, Police Athletic Leagues, career days, and Juneteenth events.
Professional athletes have worn his trademark EATN shirts, including NBA (National Basketball Association) point guard Brandon Knight, Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, Former NFL (National Football League) player Tourek Williams, and University of Georgia national champion running back James Cook.
“Ghetto Conscious, Evolution of a Rebel” poem “Noble Truth”
“Writing about the relationship struggles within my family, the personal impact of living in a rough neighborhood peppered with the adversity I encountered, helped me learn to Exist Above The Noise. EATN inspired me to believe I could achieve anything mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically to reach my goals, and become a constructive member of our society,” Vega stated.
Brandon gave a copy Ghetto Conscious, Evolution of a Rebel to STU President David A. Armstrong, J.D.
during a chance meeting in 2021. President Armstrong was so impressed by its messages and the mission of EATN, he offered Brandon the opportunity to join STU as a student success advisor.
“Ghetto Conscious is one of the most powerful books I have read in the last 20 years. Brandon’s poetry blew me away. We bought 1,500 copies, and the book is being used in all our UNI 101 courses,” stated President David A. Armstrong, J.D. “Brandon now works at St. Thomas University, getting his message across to our students, helping the University with retention, and going out into the community, spreading his message and STU’s message to thousands of students.”
Since joining STU in August 2021, he has spoken to more than 25 classes on campus and via Zoom, positively influencing more than 500 STUdents.
“My position working at STU means everything to me. This is my community. I am contributing to the history of it and that is incredibly humbling to me. I just want to make my family and friends proud.”
His upcoming events include The EATN Project Presents: Ghetto Conscious, Black History Month Exhibition Brunch in STU’s Convocation Hall on February 19, 2022, and a book signing at Urban Reader Bookstore in Charlotte, NC, on February 26, 2022.
Brandon balances his dedication to sharing EATN’s message with being a devoted father to his young son, Messiah Roy-Al.
