Praise for I'ght So Bloom
Endorsements
"Prolific. Mario Reyes is one of the most beautiful souls walking the planet, but when I think of him as a writer, as a poet, as an artist, the first word to come to mind is Prolific. His pen game, the way he bridges flows, and the spirit he puts into his work is beyond this world. He is one of the greatest to ever do it."
J. IvyGrammy Award–winning poet
"Mario's friendship and voice have been a steady force in The Gathering Spot community. In I'ght So Bloom he brings the same courage and clarity to the page, pushing forward conversations we need around healing, manhood and the power of showing up for yourself and others."
Ryan WilsonCo-founder & CEO, The Gathering Spot
From the very first moment I met Mario Reyes, it was clear he wasn't just another brother talking about change, he was living it. For the last three years, Mario has been one of the strongest pillars in The Dad Gang movement. He's led our Atlanta chapter with conviction, carried the March of Dads like a true general, and consistently shown up for fathers and families in a way that makes our entire mission feel possible on a deeper level.
His new book, I'ght So Bloom, is more than a memoir. It's a mirror, a blueprint, and a battle cry for any man who has ever wrestled with becoming his best self. Mario takes us through his mental health journey with the same honesty, humor, and heart that he brings to his community work. The prose, the poetry, the stories—every page reminds us that growth isn't a straight line; it's a bloom that demands patience, pain, presence, and purpose.
As a fatherhood and men's mental health and wellness advocate, Mario has proven time and time again that vulnerability is not weakness, it's leadership. Through this book, he invites us into the messy, beautiful process of becoming whole. He shows us that healing isn't something you keep to yourself; it's a gift you share with your community.
If you're a dad, a brother, a son, or simply someone who believes that men deserve the space to feel, reflect, and rise—this book belongs in your hands. I'm proud to call Mario a Dad Gang ambassador, a leader, and more importantly, a brother.
Bloom, brother. Your words matter. Your work matters. And your journey is helping men everywhere realize that theirs does too.
Sean WilliamsFounder, The Dad Gang
I'ght So Bloom by my friend, Mario Reyes, is a necessary and timely work—one that speaks to the sacred labor of healing, especially for Black men who were taught to survive but never taught how to be whole. This book is not performative vulnerability; it is disciplined, intentional growth. Page by page, Mario demonstrates that transformation is not accidental—it is chosen, worked, and lived out loud.
What moved me most is the way this memoir refuses shortcuts. It honors the slow, often uncomfortable journey from silence to self-awareness, from pain to purpose. Through story, reflection, and practical insight, I'ght So Bloom gives language to emotions many men were denied and offers tools where society only offered expectations.
This book understands something profound: healing is not just personal—it is communal. As Mario's journey unfolds, particularly in Atlanta, we see how inner work becomes public responsibility, how growth turns into service, and how healed men help heal systems. That connection between personal restoration and collective liberation is the heartbeat of this work.
I strongly recommend I'ght So Bloom to anyone committed to emotional integrity, healthy masculinity, and the belief that becoming whole is a form of justice. This book is a mirror, a roadmap, and an invitation to bloom—on purpose.
Dr. Jamal H. BryantSenior Pastor, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
