M.E.L Inc. Mission Statement
The Mentoring Education & Leadership is a nonprofit organization that is committed to helping youth and families develop the necessary skills to promote self-awareness and enhance leadership potential. There is a critical need to ensure the success and survival of youth and families in urban and rural communities.

The M.E.L Inc. main objective is to provide community programs that will enhance the overall quality of life. These programs are designed to inspire, educate, and mentor youth and families, which is necessary for well-being. M.E.L Inc. collaborates with educators, community leaders, and local agencies to reach the goal of providing quality service for youth and families.
Mentoring
  • Teaching life through caring.
  • Having an interest in the outcome of someone else life. It is not an exact science or methodology.
  • It requires consistency by providing advice but not making the decision.
  • Mentors must give of one’s self.
  • Mentoring has intrinsic rewards, i.e. (giving back)
  • Mentoring is a conscience decision that requires time money self & inclusion into your family unit. It doesn’t matter whether you are single, married, divorced, or widowed.
  • Mentoring requires guidance through childhood, teens, adulthood, until death. No matters what happens mentors will always be looked upon & sought for advice. Respect is earned through this relationship & last a lifetime.
Education
  • Education is for the game of life.
  • It will give you intangible skills, abilities, and stretch you emotionally to achieve goals that at one point seemed to be unreachable.
  • No one can take your education away from you.
  • You can take education anywhere.
  • It will knock on the door of opportunity and open it up for you if you let it.
Leadership
  • Leadership is focused on service; people are viewed as assets not liabilities.
  • Effective leaders rely on biblical principals (servant leaders) i.e. Generals in the military first serve their troops and then lead.
  • Leaders empower those around them to make decisions, whether they are good, bad, or indifferent.
Dr. Carnel L. Smith
Carnel is native of Toledo, Ohio; he is a graduate of Jesup W. Scott High School. Carnel was an All City and All State football player who also received Honorable Mention All City in basketball. Upon his graduation from Scott High School, Carnel earned a football scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh where he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Law and lettered in varsity football four years and received numerous awards. Carnel was drafted into the National Football League’s 11th round by the Indianapolis Colts. In addition to the NFL, Carnel also played in the World Football League for the London Monarchs of London, England.

Carnel went on to complete his Masters degree at Bowling Green State University in Education Administration and Supervision, M.Ed. Additionally,
Carnel earned his doctoral degree in Education and Leadership Studies from Bowling Green State University, Ed.D. Carnel’s dissertation focused on “The Effects of Natural Mentors in the Lives of At-Risk African-American Male Adolescents” from a qualitative phenomenological perspective.

Carnel’s career has spanned diverse positions, working in management and supervision for Coke-Cola Bottling Company, Aetna U.S. Healthcare, and Metropolitan Distributing Company/Miller Brewing. As an educator Carnel has taught elementary school, high school health, and special education. In addition, Carnel has coached high school football and mentored at-risk youth assisting many through the process of entering college and preparing youths and adolescents for life.

Carnel is the founder and executive director of the Mentoring, Education, & Leadership Inc. a non-profit organization that is committed to ensuring the success and survival of youth and families in urban and rural communities by providing them with the necessary tools to equip themselves for life through mentoring, education, & Leadership. M.E.L Inc. supports the “Carnel Smith Summer Youth Football Camp” which is a free camp and teaches football fundamentals, and character education for boy’s grades 3rd-8th for one week each summer. The camp has provided service for over one thousand boys in a six year spans.

Currently, Carnel gives motivational speeches to both youth and adults organizations; he trains teachers, mentors, non-profit, and private organizations on the concepts and ideas of natural mentoring. Carnel is also Dean of Students at Horizons Science Academy in Toledo, Ohio.