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Jeff Ponders II

@jeffponders

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Artist. Author. Speaker. Entrepreneur. VC.
🎙 @becomingbetterpodcast
@tedx_official
'21 Crain’s 40U40
I help people & businesses become better.
🤙🏾

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Six years between albums. A lot of becoming in between.

This song is about what it actually takes to keep going when the path isn’t clear — faith in God, faith in yourself, and the perseverance to pursue what’s most true to you.

And it’s a bop — you’ll be stepping and grooving through your day with a whole new swag.

I’m grateful to have @erro44 on this one. He brought exactly what the song needed.

“Believe” is out now. Link in bio — save it, share it, let it find someone who needs it today.

🎵 Jeff Ponders II feat. Eric Roberson taken in Detroit, Michigan by @jeffponders

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7 months ago

This project didn’t start in a studio.

It’s the fruit of a life lived in wholeness after years of fragmentation.

There was a season where I was trying to be different versions of myself in different rooms... at work, on stage, at home. I thought if I wore the right mask, I’d get the best results.

It wasn’t cosplay... it was fragmentation.

And in 2014, after years of “showing up,” I broke.

I couldn’t appreciate the good that life had provided, because I just wasn’t together enough to hold it all.

But God caught me and gave me three questions that re-rooted everything:

Who am I?
Who do I want to be?
Who am I becoming?

My journey of becoming began then - and led me here.

Becoming Better is the first musical expression of living life whole.

I’m proud to share it.

And this is just the beginning of what I’ll be unfolding musically throughout the year.

If you purchase Becoming Better before May 1st, you’ll automatically receive the full Better EP in June.

Becoming Better is $5 right now.
Better will be $10 when it releases.

Now available on @bandcamp

Become with me. 🎧

Link in bio.

#BecomingBetter #DetroitJazz #IndependentArtist #jazz #LiveWhole taken in Detroit, Michigan by @jeffponders

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8 months ago

I’m excited to announce that my new book, BEtter, officially launches today.

{What is BEtter}
BEtter is for people searching for a more clear and fulfilling path to success. I remember struggling for years to find alignment between my passions and my profession - and the framework from Better was the key that unlocked it for me! The tools in the book have proven effective for leaders looking to unlock performance in their teams, entrepreneurs who don’t ascribe to traditional career paths, students aiming to recover from academic setbacks, and professionals seeking better harmony between their professional and personal aspirations.

{The Special Offer}
In honor of the launch, we’re discounting the ebook version from its full list price down to $0.99 for the first week! With the ebook, you can read it from any phone, tablet, or computer. If you’re more of a “feel the paper” type, the physical book is available as well!

{My Ask}
Do NOT feel obligated, but if you have an active Amazon account, I’d be extremely grateful if you could buy the book and leave a review. Reviews are the most important factor in how many new readers the book is able to reach, and each one makes a big difference!

Thank you so much for your support. I’m so grateful for this moment - and I hope you’ll continue on this journey with me!

Always Better,

Jeff taken in Detroit, Michigan by @jeffponders

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4 years ago

It started with A Different World and it's still going! We're still not over this iconic night that the city can't stop talking about. And we’re reliving it here.

On May 16, we transformed East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney into a celebration of everything that makes Detroit special: the people, the style, the talent, the creativity, and the excellence.
From the blue carpet to the dance floor, Detroit showed up looking iconic. But beyond the beautiful outfits, unforgettable performances, incredible food, and immersive experiences was something even more powerful: a shared belief in the future of DPSCD students.

That's what the Tyrone E. Winfrey Hall of Fame Alumni Gala is all about: celebrating where we've been, investing in where we're going, and making sure the next generation has every opportunity to thrive.

The gala may be over, but the movement is still going.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support that night, learned more about our mission, and continues to help move this work forward.

Here's a look back at a night we'll never forget. taken in East English Village Preparatory Academy by @jeffponders

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4 months ago

Detroit, this is what we’ve been building. 💥

The @GilbertFamilyFoundation just extended @Venture313 with a $6.4M grant, bringing total commitment to over $15.6M.

As a founding partner in Venture313, ID Ventures has helped put $6M into ~120 Detroit startups since 2022, unlocking $60M+ in outside investment. That’s the power of community-driven capital.

More funding. More founders. More Detroit. 🙌🏾

📰 via @crainsdetroit (link in bio)

#Venture313 #GilbertFamilyFoundation #Startups #LIVAQ #CircNova by @jeffponders

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5 months ago

Happy Monday!

We live in a world that constantly pushes us to fit a box... to be one thing, to hide the parts of ourselves that feel like “too much.”

But I believe God made you unique on purpose. What He has for you is JUST for you. Only you can access it, because He reserved it specifically for you. And it only becomes available when you’re willing to embrace all of you.

The things you love. The things you’ve been ashamed of. The parts you’ve kept hidden.

These parts aren’t liabilities: they’re your keys.

You are not too much. You are exactly enough — all of you, together.

As you start to live whole, you’ll begin to step into things you dreamed of - and things beyond what you could’ve imagined.

Today: be you. Live whole.

#LiveWhole #BeYou #MondayMotivation taken in Detroit, Michigan by @jeffponders

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5 months ago

Thank you, Detroit! Last night was more than legendary. We transformed East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney into a different world and it was iconic! Stay tuned for the official photos and recap video! But we wanted to start the morning off with our deepest gratitude for everyone supported the Tyrone E. Winfrey Hall of Fame Alumni Gala 💗🏆 taken in East English Village Preparatory Academy by @jeffponders

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5 months ago

What I thought was just me pulling up to see my bro at @missevasdetroit turned into a much needed content workshop that helped me get back active. I know my big struggle with content is consistency, and I’m out here trying to make it happen.

Thanks to @alexisfloceo and @intotheavenue for showing me some new editing techniques add pushing me off the ledge - and shout out to my guy Jay for hosting such a really cool #marketingmonday series.

Here’s to more content, better content, and more connections.

Ohh - and if you haven’t streamed my single “Believe” with Eric Roberson - get on it!!

#bebetter #livewhole #newmusic taken in Miss Eva’s Detroit by @jeffponders

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5 months ago

The score just went up! The lineup for the Tyrone E. Winfrey Hall of Fame Alumni Gala is out of this world. Just added.. Jeff Ponders is bringing back Isis Damil as his special guest in the speakeasy! She brought the house down last year in a standing-room-only takeover of the speakeasy last year. Expect to be blown away again!

Between Charity, Jeff Ponders’ live band, Amerie, and DJ Lynda Carter you won’t want to leave a Different World!

But that’s not all... don’t forget, to sum it up, your ticket includes:

• Upscale dining by @reva_constantinesmith, @chefdominicdet, @goodtimesontheave
• Top-shelf offerings by @sumptuousspirits IYKYK (included with your ticket)
• Speakeasy experience featuring @jeffponders, @isisdamil, and @charity
• Main stage sounds by @djlyndacarter
• Personal portraits by @q11photography and @fancyflashphotobooth
• Event design by @colourbynumbr so expect to be blown away
• Future-forward activations to elevate the experience
• Make up touchups by THEE Rashida, @theglamdoctor!

We really thought of everything… so come see why this event sells out every year.

🎟️ www.halloffamedetroit.org taken in East English Village Preparatory Academy by @jeffponders

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5 months ago

In case you’re keeping score, here’s the lineup for the Tyrone E. Winfrey DPSCD Hall of Fame Alumni Gala on Saturday, May 16! Amerie, Jeff Ponders, Charity, and DJ Lynda Carter will keep us rocking all night long!

We really thought of everything… so come see why this event sells out every year.

🎟️ www.halloffamedetroit.org by @jeffponders

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6 months ago

Big Sean is back with your official invite to the Hall of Fame Alumni Gala.

He told you to pull up last year… and it was a BANGER. If you know, you know. If not, this is your chance to get it right.

The Tyrone E. Winfrey Hall of Fame DPSCD Alumni Gala returns May 16 with this year’s theme, A Different World: A Future Forward Celebration of DPSCD. We’re curating an experience that’s truly out of this world.

• Upscale dining by @reva_constantinesmith, @chefdominicdet, @goodtimesontheave
• Curated offerings by @sumptuousspirits (included with your ticket)
• Speakeasy experience featuring @jeffponders and special guest performances
• Main stage sounds by @djlyndacarter
• Personal portraits by @q11photography + @fancyflashphotobooth
• A Grammy-nominated performer taking the stage
• Event design by @colourbynumbr so expect to be blown away
• Future-forward activations to elevate the experience

And more!

We’ve got a winning mix and can’t wait to put on another one for the city. You heard him… don’t miss it.

🎟️ www.halloffamedetroit.org by @jeffponders

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6 months ago

God, thank You for the gift of fatherhood… and for letting me witness this kind of becoming up close.

Happy 11th birthday, JP3.

Just a few months ago, you honored me in a moment I’ll never forget. And now I get to return the favor.

It’s wild watching you grow—not just getting older, but becoming.
Becoming more creative. More bold. More thoughtful. More yourself.

You’ve always had something in you…
a spark that shows up in how you think, how you move, and how you see the world.
Creative. Funny. Enterprising. Passionate.

And the part that gets me most… you’re just getting started.

I don’t just see who you are.
I see who you’re becoming.

And I truly believe you’re going to change the world.

I’m grateful I get to walk with you, guide you, and learn from you along the way.

Love you, son.

#LiveWhole #HappyBirthday #Fatherhood taken in Detroit, Michigan by @jeffponders

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6 months ago