By Edward Pollard
Edward Pollard is the Houston City Council Member for District J and serves as principal owner of Pollard Legal Group. However, he says his most rewarding professional work is being the co-founder of the nonprofit Suits for Success. In 2014, Edward and two colleagues, Vernon Johnson and Duke Amos, wanted to fill a void in the city as it pertained to a lack of male mentorship programs for high school boys. They noticed that around prom season, many efforts were initiated to assist girls in need with prom dresses but there was never anything mentioned about the boys and their needs, and from there Suits for Success was born.
Instead of just focusing on prom season and a single event, Pollard created Life School, which is a semester-long mentorship course that teaches critical topics not taught in a traditional classroom setting, such as public speaking, etiquette training, resume building, interview techniques, personal finance, and how to tie a tie. At the completion of the program, each student earns a free suit, shirt, and tie for high school graduation and other milestones in life. The program’s main campus has been Sharpstown High School in District J, but it has also helped boys in additional schools in HISD, charters, churches, and affiliated nonprofits.
In speaking about his favorite experience of the program, Pollard says “I enjoy helping the kids select their suits and taking them to the tailor for the perfect fit. Most of our boys have never owned a suit or been to a tailor. To see their entire demeanor change by taking off their hoodies and putting on a suit is incredible. You see their self-worth and self-confidence rise instantly before your eyes.”
Pollard also states that, “We have added a component of our program that allows our boys the opportunity to wear their new suits at an upscale restaurant to teach our etiquette training class. Last year we took all the boys to Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse to give them access and exposure to fine dining.”
Pollard notes that there is no GPA requirement or strict criteria for being eligible for the Suits for Success program at each school. The program is open to all graduating senior males, and their only requirement to be accepted into the program is that they attend an orientation, write a two-page paper over the winter break expressing interest, and showing up on time to each class. The sessions are held during their school day at the lunch period. Instead of going to the cafeteria for lunch, the students convene in a classroom to learn their topic of the day while food is provided. This is to accommodate many students who either ride the bus, have extracurricular activities or jobs after school, and would not be able to attend due to those commitments.
Suits for Success was initially started to help teen males in their transition from high school to the real world, but Pollard felt there needed to be another program that also focused on boys transitioning from elementary school to middle school. In an effort to help young boys take pride in their appearance by avoiding sagging pants, he created a spinoff of Suits for Success called Belts for Boys. Belts for Boys engages 5th graders on the importance of having confidence, good behavior, consistency, proper hygiene, and work ethic with a focus on keeping your pants pulled up on your waist and wearing a belt. Belts for Boys is currently partnering with Benavides Elementary School in District J, where each 5th grade boy is given a free belt during their first class session.
Pollard says, “For too long, I have been disappointed at how we have neglected the necessity to address seeing boys in our communities with their pants hanging low, so I decided to do something about it. Our kids have so much talent and potential, but they just need guidance, nurturing, opportunity, and exposure. With something as simple as a belt, we are going to work on impacting the lives of our young boys.” The Belts for Boys program will consist of character building and assisting in the transition of pre-teen to teenage life and the maturation process that is necessary for success as a young man.
The mission of Suits for Success is to motivate, encourage, and mentor young men by instilling fundamental core principles around what will be expected of them in a professional and collegiate world, accompanied by an essential wardrobe. Edward adds “Here at Suits for Success, we believe looking like a success is the first step to becoming a success.”
The suits provided to the boys are donated. If you have a gently worn suit, sizes 36-42 in need of a new home, you can schedule a drop off with their nonprofit partner Career Gear Houston by calling (713) 778-9959. For additional information on Suits for Success and how you can be involved or contribute to their program, please visit, suitsforsuccesshouston.org.
