Poised Gentlemen Institute
Build Men. Build Communities.
About Poised Gentlemen Institute
Poised Gentlemen Institute (PGI) is a Louisiana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to building the next generation of men through character development, mentorship, and leadership education. Founded by David Rachal III in New Orleans, we serve boys and young men ages 10–17, with priority service to underserved communities. We operate on four governing pillars—Integrity, Strength, Emotional Intelligence, and Discipline—guiding every aspect of our work. Our mission is clear: underserved doesn't mean underpowered.
What sets us apart is our commitment to building identity, not just teaching behavior. Our program model—Engage. Educate. Empower.—moves young men from passive participants to active leaders in their homes, schools, and communities. We blend emotional intelligence training with real mentorship relationships, civic responsibility, and self-mastery, giving young men tools that outlast any single program cycle. With our primary base in New Orleans and programmatic reach extending into Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, we're guided by a working Board of Directors and a growing Advisory Council of educators, mentors, and community leaders. Poised Gentlemen Institute (PGI) is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity, incorporated in Louisiana with tax-exempt status effective June 19, 2026 under IRC Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (EIN: 42-3430743). The organization's official digital domain for administrative and organizational communications is poisedgentlemeninstitute.org.
Our Services
Mentorship Programming
One-on-one and group mentorship for boys and young men ages 10–17, connecting them with positive role models who provide guidance, support, and accountability in their personal and academic development.
Community and Organizational Workshops
Workshops and convenings designed for schools, churches, and community organizations seeking to engage young men in character development and leadership training. We partner with institutions to bring our measured methodology to their audiences.
Personal Grooming & Brand Development
Personal Grooming & Brand Development teaches young men that how they present themselves is the first sentence of their story. From grooming fundamentals to personal style and professional presence, this program builds the outward discipline that reflects inward character — helping our young men walk into any room poised, confident, and ready to be taken seriously.
The Four Pillars
Boys are told to be a man. They are rarely shown how. So they perform it. They get harder, quieter, and further away every year. No boy should have to guess his way into manhood. That is why Poised Gentlemen Institute exists.
- Integrity. Doing what you said you would do when no one is checking.
- Strength. Physical, mental, and moral. The capacity to carry weight for other people.
- Emotional Intelligence. Naming what you feel and choosing your response instead of reacting.
- Discipline. The habit that holds when motivation runs out.
How it works
- Start a conversation. We learn your school, your organization, or your son.
- Build the cohort. Eight to twelve boys, grouped by developmental stage, with a two-week lead time.
- Run the semester. Twelve sessions, three measurement checkpoints, and a written report at the end.
What we measure
Most youth programs report attendance and call it impact. We assess every boy at baseline, midpoint, and completion using the Poised Relational Index, and our partners receive the results in writing. Our curriculum aligns to CASEL, Positive Youth Development, and PVEST frameworks.
Across our first 24 boys in two completed cohorts with Son of a Saint, we held 85 percent attendance on voluntary after-school programming, and 8 in 10 boys improved at identifying their own emotional state and choosing their response.
Who we serve
Poised Gentlemen Institute delivers programming in New Orleans and across the Gulf South, with priority service to underserved communities. We partner with schools, charter networks, and youth-serving nonprofits. Underserved does not mean underpowered, and it should never mean unmeasured.
To bring a cohort to your school or organization, or to support this work, write to david@poisedgentlemeninstitute.org or call (504) 318-0107. Our office is at 2339 Almonaster Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117.