Jacobi Winslett reflects on Oklahoma City mentorship and the adults who helped him see more possibilities for his life. From an after-school program at Novo Ministries to changes in education and work, he considers what that early attention means now. His conversation with Jed Chappell connects leading by example at TimberCraft Homes with a renewed desire to give younger people his time.
Content note: Discussion of economic hardship and stressful experiences in law enforcement.
What this conversation explores
- The meaning of early mentorship can become clearer years after the program ends.
- Doing the work firsthand shapes what a leader asks of other people.
- Gratitude can become a practical commitment to give someone else time and attention.
Chapters
00:00 — Branded opening
00:20 — Jacobi Winslett and the conversation
01:52 — Growing up in Oklahoma City
08:30 — A mentor who helped him see his worth
11:21 — Novo: from participant to first job
16:46 — College, management and law enforcement
25:32 — Taking a career risk with a safety net
31:24 — Leading after doing the work
37:22 — Housing education and its limits
39:43 — A mentor’s influence becomes a next step
46:31 — Hope for Oklahoma City
50:36 — Doing hard things and closing reflections
About the guest
Jacobi Winslett is Vice President of Sales & Marketing at TimberCraft Homes, confirmed on its team page. He grew up in Oklahoma City and attended Millwood. In this conversation, he describes participating in Novo Ministries before volunteering and working there as a teenager, changing direction in school and work, and deciding to mentor younger people. Current role: https://timbercraft.co/our-team/ (checked October 12, 2026). Other biographical context is drawn from the interview.
Resources
Jacobi Winslett / TimberCraft Homes team: https://timbercraft.co/our-team/
City Center: https://okcitycenter.org/
VOICES of OKC — Watch + Listen: https://www.voicesofokc.com/watch-listen/
City Center champions youth and families in under-resourced communities by creating empowered pathways to relief and restoration. VOICES of OKC is its conversation platform, featuring local leaders, builders, artists, advocates, and neighbors whose stories help shape the civic imagination of Oklahoma City.