Yannik McKie is a living example of what it means to turn pain into purpose. After losing both of his parents to AIDS before the age of sixteen, Yannik spent his teenage years battling depression, anxiety, and an overwhelming sense of abandonment. He knows what it feels like to grow up without stability, without direction, and without the emotional safety every child deserves. But he also knows what it means to rise.

Through faith, perseverance, and the power of purposeful relationships, Yannik rebuilt his life and discovered the message that would define his mission: your greatest pain can become your greatest platform. Today, he has dedicated his life to helping young people in Augusta and beyond find hope, healing, and purpose in their own challenges.

As the founder of Living in Purpose and a sought-after youth mentor, speaker, and community leader, Yannik uses his story to build trust with the students who need him most. Whether he is leading Men in Training, launching workforce and leadership pathways for young adults, mentoring youth caught in the justice system, or expanding after school programs in underserved neighborhoods, his focus is always the same: equip young people to rise above adversity and transform their future.

Yannik’s unique ability to connect with hurting youth comes from one truth—they see themselves in his story. They believe him because he has lived what they’re living. His life and leadership prove that pain is not an ending point, but the starting point for purpose. And through Living in Purpose, he is building a generation of young people who will do the same.