Dr. Eddie Connor is an empowerment speaker, college professor, and founder of The Eagles Academy which empowers you to soar into success and purpose. He also served as the President of the National Entrepreneurs Association of Michigan.
He is also the founder of the mentoring program Boys 2 Books which empowers young males via literacy, leadership, and life skills enrichment.
Many of his accomplishments include being a recipient of The President Barack Obama Volunteer Service Award and The President Barack Obama Lifetime Achievement Award. He is recognized as one of the Top 35 Millennial Influencers in America, listed in the Top 100 Leaders in Who’s Who in Black Detroit, named to Michigan Chronicle’s Top 40 Under 40, and Author of the Year by Kingdom Image Awards.
We are thrilled to spotlight Dr. Eddie Connor for empowering communities to sour into success and purpose.
If someone were to ask you who is Dr. Eddie Connor, what would your reply be?
Dr. Eddie: I am a best-selling author of 14 books, speaker, mentor, college professor, and founder of the Eagles Academy. Most importantly, I am a servant leader who empowers people to overcome obstacles.
Please tell us about The Eagles Academy?
Dr. Eddie: The Eagles Academy is an online community that shows you how to increase your income, impact, ideas, and influence. In our sessions, I empower men and women to soar into success and purpose. I help people who desire growth in their purpose, relationships, and business go from not enough to more than enough. As a result of being in our community, they experience transformation to turn their ideas into income, contacts into contracts, and purpose into profit as change agents in their community.
If you want to experience healing and wholeness, discover how to walk in your purpose, gain confidence, and experience transformation, then my academy is tailor-made for you. Our online digital space serves to curate a community connection that fosters empowerment through our masterclasses, workshops, and training sessions at www.TheEaglesAcademy.com
In what ways does the work that you do make a difference in your community and within communities of color?
Dr. Eddie: More than anything, I think the work makes a difference through restorative resilience. It is an emphasis on hope in action by showing that we’re better together by working together. So often we have been segmented and divided but our true power is harnessed when we are united. I continue to serve throughout the Detroit metro area as a mentor to young brothers, empowering them through literacy, leadership, and life skills enrichment. Simply because of the difference I have made in their lives, they are now making a difference as college graduates, community innovators, mentors, entrepreneurs, husbands, leaders, scholars, and fathers. All of this makes the work worth it.
You played a major role in crafting a bipartisan resolution to address the urgent crisis of illiteracy in America affecting Black and Hispanic males. What was this experience like for you and what was the result?
Dr. Eddie: Yes indeed, In 2012 I worked as an aide to former U.S. Congressman Hansen Clarke and assisted in crafting a bipartisan resolution (H.Res.721–112th Congress) to address the urgent crisis of illiteracy in America affecting black and hispanic males. The resolution became the impetus for President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. The initiative was developed to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. One of the particular milestones was to place an emphasis on reading at grade level by third grade, especially in the wake of the pre-school to prison pipeline which warehouses young Black and Hispanic males at disproportionate rate in America.
Congratulations on being listed as one of the Top 35 Millennial Influencers in America! What does being an influencer mean to you?
Dr. Eddie: Thank you! Author and speaker John Maxwell affirms that leadership is influence. Beyond the title, it’s all about transformation interpersonally and collectively in the community. An influencer and leader is not solely about how many people are following you but how many leaders you can create from those who follow you. To receive that recognition simply means that I have more work to do and a greater impact to make wherever I go.
As a public speaker, you often speak at churches, colleges, and conferences. What are some of the topics you are most passionate about discussing to audiences to empower them?
Dr. Eddie: In churches, it’s all about empowering people to put their faith into action, remain rooted in God, and I share my personal testimony of healing from stage four cancer. When I’m in colleges and at conferences I teach on topics regarding personal identity, overcoming self-limiting beliefs, and discovering and pursuing your purpose.
What does the rest of this year look like for you?
Dr. Eddie: The rest of this year will be a reflection of massive impact and contributing value to the community. My 15th book will be debuting soon which will empower people to hone in on their unique identity and make 2023 a year of intentionality.
What is your purpose and what do you want your legacy to look like?
Dr. Eddie: My purpose is all about empowering people to transform what was painful into something purposeful and overcome obstacles. I want my legacy to be viewed through the lens of leading by serving others. A quote that I live by is “Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy.” Life is about more than increasing your income. It’s about increasing your impact by being a positive person of influence. My passion is to propel people into their purpose and give back to help others move forward. The power of servant leadership is a quintessential aspect to living a quality life.
You can connect with Dr. Eddie Connor on social media @EddieConnorJr on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Also, join his amazing Eagles Academy where he teaches you how to increase your income, impact, ideas, and influence by registering at www.TheEaglesAcademy.com
