In “The Support System,” C. Dwayne West examines three essential components of effective and concerned mentoring that help guide and transform young lives: Finding Your Power Source (Discovering Yourself), Igniting Their Spark (Parents), and Feeding Their Power Source (The Village). Together, these elements form a dynamic framework for nurturing the next generation toward greatness. West’s work emphasizes that a young person’s journey from childhood through adulthood is best supported by intentional guidance and collective care.
He explores how parents ignite passion and values within the home, how self-discovery fuels ambition, and how the broader community—educators, mentors, professionals, and neighbors—feeds and sustains that Growth. “The support young people need does not occur by accident—it is created through purpose, love, and unity,” writes West. “Every successful adult can name the mentors who helped them find their way.” In this inspiring volume, West also chronicles select individuals whose lives embody the principles of mentorship, faith, and character. The book honors those who have devoted themselves to guiding, nurturing, and uplifting others, showing that true greatness is measured not by wealth or title but by service and compassion.
“What I’m most excited about as I prepare for the three-month-long book tour, starting in Chicago, of course, is having these conversations about the importance of mentoring and who should mentor as well as who should be mentored. I can’t wait to have these discussions across the country and show non-believers how mentoring can save their lives even more than the lives that I hope they will agree to save and transform,” expressed Dwayne. With this publication, Third World Press Foundation continues its nearly sixty-year mission to publish and promote works that uplift communities, strengthen families, and expand the possibilities of human literacy and liberation through the written word.
West, tell us how we got here. From the basketball court to fatherhood, tell us about you and what or who inspired you to take that huge step to becoming an author?
West: The journey is long and winding. I can’t mention who inspired me without highlighting Mr. Bill Garth, the now deceased publisher of a Chicago newspaper chain. He, along with Henry English, Dr. Conrad Worrell, Greg Hinton, John H. Johnson, Clarence Wood, Robert Blackwell, Sr., Dr. Eric Whitaker, Dorothy Leavell, Hermene Hartman, Melody Spann-Cooper, and a host of others who poured into me. I’m forever grateful to my elders who took the time to engage me and share how to build, collaborate, and serve. This is why this book is so important. “The Support System: Who Will Help Guide Me… The Power of Mentoring” talks about how imperative it is to transform and inspire the next generation of leaders within our community.
In your book, you talk about building a brand and legacy with generational wealth. Can you ex-pound on why it is so important to create financial stability for decades to come?
West: It’s pretty simple. To see our community continue to progress, the next level is for our extremely wealthy to invest in emerging innovators arising from urban America’s concrete jungles. We must build wealth so we can erect schools, establish great businesses that employ thousands from the community, and ensure that we’re preparing our families for 100 years in the future.
There are so many massive brands that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars or even billions, and if we truly want to compete in this global economy, we need to see future business leaders leading the charge. Finally, the slogan “That wealth is also legislated,” then we need our elected officials who come from our community to fight without hesitation or pause to ensure that federal funding is distributed to startups and established enterprises. This is business, not charity!
What is your favorite chapter in the book and why? And why did you choose this chapter over the other chapters in the book?
West: Dang… the best chapter is actually not a chapter. It is my Author’s Dedication and the Post Game Discussion. It allows me to list the many folks from my hood (Tuley Park/Chatham) who have helped me survive the concrete jungle and escape out of the hood like a rose growing with little to no sunlight. These people were my sunlight. They taught me how to be a strong young brother who became a King Lion. Also, I get a chance to mention the many people who came into my life and guided me through my entrepreneurial journey. These personalities were so valuable to me in becoming who I am today as a businessman and community strategist. I can’t talk about them enough…
Tell us what message or lesson you want a person who reads the book to come away with. Also, how should the reader apply your advice as an entrepreneur?
West: The only concern I want anyone who reads this book to know is how important it is for every person to help transform and guide lost and confused souls roaming our hoods who are stuck in rooms without a door. All of our jobs are to help open doors for anyone who wants to find prosperity and walk down the yellow brick road to transformation. The book is also a way for me to contribute to building wealth as an entrepreneur and now an author. Find your purpose and passion, and live it well… Don’t stop until you find your seat at the table of life!
Trusting someone to put your Work of Words in writing the way you want to see them is a major undertaking. When seeking the right publishing company that is sensitive to your message, what should an inspired author look for? We notice that you chose a Black owned and operated local press, the “Third World Press.”
Was your decision to use them fueled by your associations with authors who have used them?
West: Third World Press and its founder, Dr. Haki Madhubuti, who is an iconic poet and writer. The publishing house is the oldest and most accomplished publishing company in the world, and they have published books by Dr. Cornel West, Tavis Smiley, Gwendolyn Brooks, and so many others. I’ve been chasing down Haki for over ten years to get him to publish my first book. I was not going to be satisfied with any other book imprint company. Two years ago, Dr. Madhubuti finally had the time, and he saw extreme value in delivering this kind of literature to our community. I’m super pleased with the outcome of my lifelong dream to become an author.
Now that the book is completed, tell us what was the most challenging thing you experienced while writing down things from your memories?
West: Yes, it’s finally complete… It was my journey to Savannah, Georgia, that contributed to my finishing these Works of Words. I secluded myself in the southern state and city of Savannah for three months and committed to not surfacing until the book was complete. In my business and fast-paced life in the Chi, it was very hard to focus. Too many distractions. Savannah helped me find my “Piece of Peace!” I can’t wait to go back this winter.
What are your upcoming plans for the book going forward? Have you set a date for a book tour?
West: I didn’t want the book to come out in the fall/winter, but the publishing house had other titles that needed to come out, so I decided to do my book tour next spring. We are doing a few key book signings this month to satisfy some responsibilities of organizations and companies that pre-ordered large amounts of books. Which I’m grateful. But come spring of 2026, there will be over 50 stops on the book tour. Can’t wait to have this discussion about the Power of Mentoring across the country, and mainly in public schools in our designated states in the Midwest, first. This book will be floating around for decades, and I will be utilizing the power of these Works of Words to speak at schools for the rest of my good life!
“The Support System” is available through Third World Press Foundation, which has a website dedicated to purchasing books, visit: https://thirdworldpressfoundation.org/products/the-support-system?_pos=1&_sid=cc5fa220e&_ss=r or visit www.thirdworldpressfoundation.org. You can also go to Carl’s site at NspireU.Tech. Third World Press (a project of Third World Press Foundation) is an independent, non-profit book publisher and the oldest African-Centered publishing company in the US. The book will not hit bookstores until the spring of 2026. You can follow Carl West on his social media YouTube channel (midwestgap) or subscribe to his daily e-blast at NspireU.Tech or send messages or any questions to [email protected].