Black Self Help Information

YMEN Chicago

YMEN Chicago

Researchers from Jawanza Kunjufu to Na’im Akbar agree that society must make a greater effort and focus more resources to reach

African-American boys ages 10-16. Even with the recent growth and revitalization in North Lawndale community, we face serious challenges in the areas of community safety and academic underachievement, particularly amoung our African-American young men. In the past four years, over 10,000 North Lawndale boys were arrested and placed into the juvenile court system. According to Congressman Danny K. Davis, 70% of all adult men in North Lawndale ages 18-45 are ex-offenders. Homicide is the leading cause of death among African-American men between the ages of 15-24 years old. In Illinois, there are more than 10,000 more African-American males in prison or on parole than are enrolled in college. In North Lawndale, less than 35% of African-American young men graduate from high school, and less than 5% earn a bachelor’s degree. If African-American young men are essential assets of a healthy community, more must be done. Reaching African-American youth is a life or death proposition.

At YMEN, we have been a community leader in providing significant resources and holistic youth programming, including academic support, leadership development activities, community service opporutunites to young men in the North Lawndale community. YMEN was recognized as “one of the outstanding youth leadership development organizations in Chicago” by Professor Joseph Kahn (Universtiy of Illinois, Chicago).

Triple Threat Mentoring

Triple Threat Mentoring

Who We Are

Triple Threat Mentoring uses people’s passions to fight the cycle of poverty. Since 2007, we’ve used our passion-based programs and events to connect more than 32,000 at-risk youth with adults who love the same things they do. We help you Share Your Passion and Create Your Legacy.

Our Mission

To empower urban youth to realize their potential and inspire volunteers to leave a lasting legacy. We’re not just a youth organization. We’re an organization that facilitates relationships between youth and volunteers through our passion-based programs.

The KHEPRW Institute

The KHEPRW Institute

WHAT IS THE KHEPRW INSTITUTE?

Kheprw Institute (KI) is a community organization that works to create a more just, equitable, human-centered world by nurturing youth and young adults to be leaders, critical thinkers and doers who see the people in any community as the most valuable assets and are committed to working with marginalized communities to bring about change that leads to empowered self-sustainable communities.

Mentoring Young Black Men in Charlottesville

Mentoring Young Black Men in Charlottesville

Last month, a Charlottesville organization to mentor young men of color beat out more than one hundred other groups across the country to get the 100 Black Men of America’s chapter of the year award for mentoring.  WMRA’s Jordy Yager talked with some of the young men who have excelled in the program, and their mentors.

Belonging to the 100 Black Men of Central Virginia is no cake walk. It’s the largest African-American mentoring program in the area for more than 200 middle and high school students. And the kids fall under some pretty tight scrutiny.

Men of Vision program mentors youth

Men of Vision program mentors youth

Ebony Vision of Fond du Lac has launched a monthly mentoring program, Men of Vision, to reach out to area youth.

The group meets from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month in the Midstates training room at Fond du Lac Public Library.

The theme this month: "They will be what they see," features a panel of professional African-American men who will be investing in the youth as they encourage and inspire them to "be all they can be," said Daisy Frazier, president of Ebony Vision. Panelists include Fond du Lac Police Officer Keywon Brown; William Green, diversity relations coordinator at Moraine Park Technical College; Jerome Dillard, Dane County Jail re-entry coordinator; Dr. Richard Paye, Kettle Moraine Correctional psychological associate; and Dr. Thurmond Lanier, podiatrist at Aurora Health Care.

The program is open to all boys age 12 and older, along with young men. A key focus is on encouraging young African-American males to attend.

"Mentoring is a proven strategy that can help young people from all circumstances achieve their potential and build self-esteem," Frazier said. "It challenges mentees to live lives of responsible action and make a meaningful impact in the world. Mentoring is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Every young person who would benefit from a mentoring relationship has individual needs."

So far, the program has drawn up to 10 youth who attend meetings and events with mentors, including a Milwaukee Bucks game and bowling.

The Hidden Genius Project

The Hidden Genius Project

The Hidden Genius Project was founded in 2012 by five black male entrepreneurs/technologists who were unnerved by the dramatic juxtaposition between the high unemployment of black male youth and the plethora of career opportunities within the local technology sector. To address this challenge, the founders established a program to connect underserved, young black males with the skills, mentors, and experiences that they need to become high-performing entrepreneurs and technologists in a 21st century, global economy.

CODE 2040

OUR MISSION

CODE2040 creates pathways to success for Blacks and Latino/as in the innovation economy.

CODE2040 is a nonprofit organization that creates programs that increase the representation of Blacks and Latino/as in the innovation economy. We believe the tech sector, communities of color, and the country as a whole will be stronger if talent from all backgrounds is included in the creation of the companies, programs, and products of tomorrow.

/dev/color

/dev/color

We wanted a place where we could learn from the best. We wanted a place where we could teach others the lessons we've learned. We couldn't find that place anywhere else, so we made it for ourselves.

/dev/color is a non-profit organization that provides Black engineers with the connections and skills needed to start and stay in the industry, and advance into leadership roles. Founded by some of the top software engineers in Silicon Valley, we’re a community for software engineers, by software engineers. We work with members throughout their careers, from college to industry, through mentorship, training and events.

Black engineers join forces to boost diversity

Black engineers join forces to boost diversity

About 1% of engineers at Facebook and Google are African American. The population of Palo Alto, Calif. is 2% African American, Menlo Park, Calif., is under 5%.

Over the summer Adeagbo founded /dev/color, a nonprofit group for African-American engineers that officially launched on Wednesday. The group brings together engineers from top companies such as Facebook, Uber and Airbnb to provide support and a voice to African Americans and give them the opportunity to raise up the next generation, Adeagbo says.

Adeagbo says he hit on the idea while volunteering as a mentor to a couple of computer science students.

"These students knew they had someone who had their backs, whom they could look up to and reach out to when they needed help. I thought to myself: Every black software engineer could accomplish a lot if they had someone like this," says Adeagbo. .

The name /dev/color is a reference to a common directory on computer systems "as well as our efforts to strengthen the community of Black software engineers, engineers of color," he says.

Adeagbo's /dev/color is joining Black Girls Code, Code 2040 and the Hidden Genius Project, a new and growing wave of enterprising organizations founded by African Americans aimed at addressing the scarcity of African Americans in the tech industry.

YEP Village seeks to mentor young African American boys

YEP Village seeks to mentor young African American boys

Melanie Washington opens the door to 225 Peabody Hall each afternoon, Monday through Thursday, welcomed by dozens of fourth- and fifth-grade boys who relish their time under the campus’ stately oaks and broad magnolias.

A licensed clinical social worker, Washington is the program director for Youth Empowerment Program, or YEP Village.

YEP Village is the product of a three-year grant from the Louisiana Office of Minority Health to the university’s Office of Social Services Research and Development, which is part of the LSU College of Human Sciences and Education.

Youth Empowerment Project

The mission of the Youth Empowerment Project is:

“YEP engages underserved young people through community-based education, mentoring and employment readiness programs to help them develop skills and strengthen ties to family and community."

Tufts Black Alumni Association launches second year of mentorship program

Tufts Black Alumni Association launches second year of mentorship program

Tufts Black Alumni Association (TBAA) held a launch event on the evening of Oct. 10 to mark the second year of the group’s mentorship program, which aims to prepare students for the professional world through connections with alumni.

The event took place in the Sophia Gordon Multipurpose Room and featured several speakers, including TBAA President Biodun “BK” Kajopaiye (A ’07) and alumnus Groom Dinkneh (A ’13), the director of the TBAA mentorship program and Young Alumni Affairs, according to TBAA alumni ambassador Jared Smith, a senior.

Dinkneh explained that the mentor program creates connections by matching up students with alumni.

“The program is an opportunity for alumni to connect with undergraduates who are interested or share some interests in academic or professional affairs,” he said.

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE ALUMNI MENTOR YOUTH TO HONOR MLK

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE ALUMNI MENTOR YOUTH TO HONOR MLK

CHICAGO (WLS) --Alumni from Morehouse College are mentoring young men in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday.

The mass mentoring session was held this morning at Quinn Chapel AME Church in the city's South Side.

They aim to help improve the life outcomes for African American youth using some of the teachings and inspiration from Dr. King.

Everyone took part in workshops, film screenings, speaker presentations and one-on-one mentorships.

See more at link

 

Mentoring Black Males

Mentoring Black Males

Across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, professional black men are increasingly taking black youths into their care. Hundreds of mentoring matches are underway, and efforts are growing to add more. The goal is to help the young men envision another kind of future – to save them from the streets, prison or early death.

Thursday night, the group that helped Gallaher – the Hearts and Minds Pipeline Program – will hold a health symposium to explain the physical and mental health needs unique to African-American males. The program's larger goal is to increase the number of African-American males in the health professions.

"Our black boys can do more than play athletics," said Gary Favors, 46, a Cincinnati Public Schools teacher and Hearts and Minds' founder. "We have to stop pigeon-holing them and start exposing them to other areas of interest."

To make his point that young black males are an "endangered species," Favors keeps copies of a national educational report in his briefcase to share. The Schott Foundation for Public Education shows in its "The Urgency of Now" report that only 10 percent of black males in eighth grade are proficient in reading and 52 percent of black males graduate high school in four years.

Ohio's black graduation rate is 45 percent, compared to 80 percent for white, non-Latino students. In Kentucky, the black graduation rate is 58 percent, compared with 69 percent for white students.

If young black males are not steered in a positive life direction as early as the fourth or fifth grade, Favors said, prison becomes a likely destination. Nationally, African-Americans make up 13.6 percent of the population, but 40.2 percent of all prison inmates are black men.

More at the link provided

Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation Partners with Coca-Cola to Pay It Forward to the Next Generation of Leaders

Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation Partners with Coca-Cola to Pay It Forward to the Next Generation of Leaders

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 15, 2014-- 

Actor, comedian turned media mogul and philanthropist--Steve Harvey--takes on another exciting role by joining the Coca-Cola Pay It Forward Program. His strong commitment to mentoring is a great complement to the movement that uncaps a world of possibilities for the next generation.

Steve Harvey partners with the Coca-Cola Pay It Forward program to offer an apprenticeship experience to two well-deserving youth. (Photo: Business Wire)

Marking year three, the Coca-Cola Pay It Forward program will offer once-in-a-lifetime apprenticeship experiences to African American youth looking to pave the way for their futures. Under the umbrella of the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation, the talk show host and best-selling author will offer two apprenticeship experiences. The experiences will focus on the areas of philanthropy/community and media/entertainment.

Partnering with the Coca-Cola Pay It Forward program builds on Harvey's long-term commitment to mentoring youth. For the past five years, the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation has hosted mentoring camps for young African-American men. The camps promote educational enrichment, one-on-one mentoring and global service initiatives. The program impacts 100 youth in five cities across the country.

"The Coca-Cola Pay It Forward program and the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation have a common goal. We want to improve, enrich, uplift and inspire young people. At the end of the day, that's what it's all about, " said Steve Harvey. "Working together, we can change far more lives than we ever could imagine doing on our own."

Black Men Mentoring Students In Albemarle County, VA

http://www.nbc29.com/story/24463682/black-men-mentoring-black-students-in-albemarle-schools

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va (WVIR) 

A group of African-American men is investing hundreds of hours a month to mentor dozens of young black male students in Albemarle County. The school system is also developing new partnerships to create more mentoring programs countywide.

Members of the 100 Black Men of central Virginia work one-on-one to mentor about 80 middle school boys in Albemarle County schools. Some of those mentors joined their students for lunch at Burley Middle School Wednesday afternoon to catch up on schoolwork and home life.

Each mentor commits to spending at least 10 hours a month with the boys they're helping to become responsible young men.

“Because of the nature of what we do and the outcome we expect it to bring, you can't trivialize the time you spend with the young people,” said Xavier Jackson, a mentor.

The Albemarle County school system tracks the success of these programs, and says mentors improve students' attendance, grades, and goals for the future.

“It's all about giving quality time with a group of students on a regular basis. But you're also tracking the performance and impact of your mentoring time you're giving to the young people,” said Bernard Hairston, executive director of community engagement for Albemarle County Public Schools.

This is just one of the mentor programs in Albemarle County schools. The school system's goal this year is to form partnerships with volunteer groups and respected members of the community to create more mentorship programs.

Big Brothers Find Recruits In Barber Chairs

Big Brothers Find Recruits in Barber Chairs

Brandon Brown has no problem shaking hands with a stranger and talking about something near and dear to him: being a Big Brother mentor to his Little Brother Robert.

Brown takes his involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati a step further, volunteering on the agency’s African American recruitment board. Their latest campaign to recruit African American men to volunteer as Big Brothers might seem unique: they reached out to Tri-State barbershops and asked to drop off information about volunteering that the shops could share with customers. Then, on a Saturday in October, Big Brothers and their Little Brothers, along with recruitment staff from the agency, spent time at the barbershops talking with customers about getting involved as a mentor.

Brown talked with customers at Preferred Cutz in North College Hill. Some of them worried that being a mentor would take too much time. He says, “I told them that the time can be ‘customized’ to their lifestyle. In the site-based program, it’s one day a week for an hour. This worked for many guys because they lead busy lives. We all do.”

Being a Big Brother himself, Brown could tell the men at Preferred Cutz that they might find they get a lot out of being a Big Brother. He told us, “Knowing that my Little Brother Robert is expecting me each week drives me. Recently, we were talking and I asked him who he admired and he included me in the line-up because I ‘had his back.’ That was priceless!”

At the end of the day, 17 men at Preferred Cutz asked for more information about becoming a Big Brother.

More at the link provided.

CBM Starts Mentoring Program In Oakland

Mentoring Proram for Young Black Men Starts at Montera Middle School

Concerned Black Men (CBM) Program Manager Lance Dennis sat at a table Tuesday in the multipurpose room at Montera Middle School going over his lesson plan for the day.

Every Tuesday and Thursday for 45 minutes, Dennis mentors sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade boys with weekly life skills sessions that also address career exploration.

Currently, there are about 15 boys enrolled in the program at each grade level, attending weekly group sessions that address etiquette, healthy eating, exercise, and community service projects.

The program has outside funding and does not cost the school or parents anything to participate.

“We were looking for a school that matched our mission, and Principal Tina Tranzor was very receptive to what we are doing,” said Dennis. “Some of these students are dealing with issues that many adults have to face like domestic disturbances. So we want to empower them and make positive impacts on their lives.”

More at the link provided

The Baltimore Algebra Project

The Baltmore Algebra Project

Ralikh and his colleagues stay involved because beyond tutoring math – as the name implies – the goal of the Baltimore Algebra Project is empowering city students who may not have otherwise been given a chance. The organization has a dual focus: increasing math literacy and advocating for student rights in the city of Baltimore. Wrapped up in a peer-to-peer tutoring program is an organization fighting daily to raise the socioeconomic status of youth in Baltimore.

Doing so starts by practicing what they preach. First, the Baltimore Algebra Project is youth-run. One hundred percent of its leadership are young people; the oldest, like Ralikh, are in college. While the non-profit has a Board of Directors with adults, the Baltimore Algebra Project – indeed, the national Algebra Project model, founded in the 1980s by civil rights activist and math educator Robert Moses – has functioned with adults working in an advisory capacity.

As the old piece of economic wisdom goes, there’s no better social program for the jobless than simply having a job. This logic applies to young people in Baltimore just as much, if not more, to any other distinct demographic group – according to the Urban Alliance, only 24 percent of youth maintain employment in Baltimore City and most of their jobs are in food service, retail, and administrative fields. Ninety percent of the Baltimore Algebra Project budget goes to paying young people to teach other young people critical math skills.

More at the link provided.

 

Chisolm: 'Host' of Black mentors serving youths

Chisolm: 'Host' of Black mentors serving youths

I am in full support of ensuring that we have enough male mentors to do as stated in Aug. 1 Savannah Morning News editorial “Save the males.”

But what I am disturbed about is the notion that there are no Black men pulling their weight in this community. Just because they have not signed up for duty in particular organizations doesn’t mean that contributions are not being made by conscious, concerned and committed Black men.

As a single father of two, I raised my daughter (now 25) on my own and helped to raise my son (almost 27) to successful adulthood. I am not alone.

I have mentored young men in my church; one successfully completed the Youth Challenge Program. I am about to add two more to my list.

The point being is that there is a host of Black men in this community who function as role models, as fathers, as surrogate fathers, as mentors and as support systems. They invest their time, talents and treasures into the lives of young people other than their own.

Just because all of them have not availed themselves in community-based programs doesn’t mean they are not contributing in meaningful ways. Why not interview them and let’s hear their story.

More at the link provided.

 

One Dad’s Impassioned Response to Saggy Pants

One Dad’s Impassioned Response to Saggy Pants

You might have seen the story this week about a controversial new dress code that bans saggy pants on the famous oceanfront boardwalk in Wildwood, N.J. You know the saggy pants syndrome: Jeans or trousers worn so low that you can see the person’s choices in underwear— brand and color, boxers or briefs. Not exactly attractive.

It just so happens that saggy pants is a passion for one Virginia dad. Gil Knowles, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and father of one (Miami TV news reporter Summer Knowles), considers the fad an opportunity to mentor instead of criticize young men who choose to show their behinds.

His book: Help Them Pull Their Pants Up: How Mentors and Communities Can Empower Young African American Men.

More at the link provided

 

More than 1,000 AKA sorority sisters volunteer in Baltimore

More than 1,000 AKA sorority sisters volunteer in Baltimore

The other children sitting on the carpet in Diana Holley's first-grade classroom at Gilmor Elementary School on Friday wiggled and squirmed and laughed and whispered. But Briana Diggs stayed still.

Her chin rested in the palm of her hands. Her eyes upturned toward the Alpha Kappa Alpha volunteer as she read a story to the children. To Briana, she was the lead character in the book, "Boys Will Be Boys: Briana's Neighborhood."

The act of reading to children, allowing them to see themselves in the stories, and modeling behavior of an engaged adult was the objective for Johnnie Colisha` Searcy, one of 1,000 sorority sisters in Baltimore for the weekend to perform more than a dozen service projects throughout the city.

More at the link provided.

Historically Black Frats Introduce Mentoring Brothers In Action

Historically Black Fraternities Introduce Mentoring Brothers in Action

Big Brothers Big Sisters and its African American fraternity partners are marking National Mentoring Month and the January 16 Martin Luther King Day of Service with the launch of Mentoring Brothers in Action, Phase II of their two-year collaborative partnership. The goal of the program, which will include support from popular nationally syndicated urban radio host Michael Baisden, is to engage more African American men in fraternal, social, faith-based and professional organizations to get involved in one-to-one mentoring to change the odds for African American boys.

“Like so many of our young men, my father also abandoned me so I understand the importance of mentoring. I was fortunate to have uncles and other men in my community to set the right example and to correct me when I was out of line,” Baisden, who is challenging other influencers, donors and celebrities to support the effort. “If we want to see different results in our young people we have to invest more into them and show them what is possible. I became a successful writer because I saw successful writers; I became a successful radio personality because I saw successful radio personalities, and so on. If we want to create more successful children we need them to see an example of success and integrity. Success is not an accident, it’s something you practice every day in the way you live your life and the way you treat people. Become a mentor today and be that example!”

“With Mentoring Brothers in Action, we are working with our fraternity partners, bolstered by the support of Michael Baisden — one of the most prominent and passionate proponents of mentoring — to bring together our best resources to tackle one of the nation’s most urgent crises. Our goal is to have a positive impact on high school graduation, juvenile justice and economic equity,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Co-Chief Executive Officer Max Miller.

More at the link provided.

On MLK Day, 62 Students Given College Scholarships By 5000 Role Models

On MLK Day, 62 Students Given College Scholarships By 5000 Role Models

Curby Sneed didn’t quite know what was going to happen to him.

“When certain situations happen, it pushes my buttons and my blood starts to boil and I just snap,” the high school senior says.

His self-esteem was low and he came very close to getting into altercations with his instructors – a move that could have led to real trouble.

“When I would end up getting upset, I would end up having conflicts with my teachers,” Sneed says.

The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project has helped steer Curby and other youngsters in a different direction. The dropout prevention intervention program focuses on minority young boys who are at risk of leaving school or choosing a life of crime, in 82 Miami-Dade public schools.

“It gives me the opportunity to actually succeed in life and be someone in life,” Sneed said. That is not always easy in the neighborhoods where Sneed, who lives in Overtown, and other students in 5000 Role Models come from – a concern for his parents and State Senator Dr. Frederica S. Wilson.

She founded the program, which matches students with business and civic leaders to inspire them.

At a Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast, 62 students, including Sneed, were given college scholarships by 5000 Role Models to pay for their education next year.

“We’ve sent thousands to college and spent over $10 million on scholarships,” said Wilson, who founded the program while on the Miami-Dade County School Board. “You can imagine how wonderful I feel and I’m sure that Dr. King can think of no other way that he would want us to remember his holiday than by helping these young men.”

Sneed said his dad got him out of the neighborhood by sending him to Coral Park High School, where he has excelled on the football field and kept up his grades. His next stop: the classroom and football field at Florida International University.

Concerned Black Men: CBM Cares

CBM Cares ®

The CBM CARES ® National Mentoring Initiative is a program that provides middle school boys with responsible and caring adult male mentors. Created in response to the high dropout rate among African American males, as well as persistent truancy and low academic achievement, the school-based effort offers one-to-one and group mentoring to boys enrolled in public and charter schools across the country.

MIssion & Vision

We, the members of the National Organization of Concerned Black Men, Inc., (CBM) have committed ourselves in support of the social, emotional, academic and psychological development of African American youth. We offer ourselves as role models and pledge to help our children aspire to lofty goals and expectations. We pledge to protect, instruct, nurture and discipline —to trust, share, honor, and above all — to be there when needed. We will teach our youth that men and women build institutions and do not engage in self-destructive behavior. We will show our Nation’s youth how to direct their energies to positive activities of benefit to all, and remind them that respect for self and others is expected of men and women of distinction. We will provide community leadership and encourage this society to place our children’s needs first. In caring for our youth, we take our responsibility seriously, and will remember that the future of our children depends on our success. Our motto is “… Caring For Our Youth.”®

United Black Men of Queens County

United Black Men of Queens County, Inc

United Black Men of Queens County, Inc. (UBMQ) was incorporated in the state of New York in 1974 as a Domestic Not-For-Profit Corporation. It is a Federal tax exempt corporation under Section 501(1)(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. UBMQ was founded by a group of professional and civic minded men to serve residents in the borough of Queens, with a special interest in promoting the welfare of at-risk black high school-age youth through its Mentoring Program.

The fundamentals of the Mentoring Program is to get to know our youth in a meaningful and personal manner and expose them to positive activities and persons that will help them reach their full potential. The activities that take place under the program include college campus tours, trips to government offices to meet with elected officials, law enforcement persons, and other professionals. The program includes tutoring in math, science, language, technology, SAT preparation, and community service projects. We monitor student academic performance and intercede as needed. We train the mentees to mentor their peers and set positive examples for everyone to see. The program also includes exposure to the Arts through excursions to cultural centers and theatre events.

The United Black Men of Queens County, Inc. is dedicated to serving our at-risk youth to bring out the best in them and to foster positive growth for them and the community they live in. This has been our unyielding mission and we are dedicated to this cause.

'Boys to Men' mentoring program makes a difference

'Boys to Men' mentoring program makes a difference

Their name reminds many of the once-popular group of singers, but this band of brothers is more about teaching success than singing.

Boys to Men was founded at Aurora East High School in 2002, a year that saw 25 people in that city killed by violence. The mentoring group's founder says the idea was spurred by emotion and anger.

"We realize that no matter what race you are, no matter what side of town you live on, every boy wants to become a man," said Clayton Muhammad. "We got so tired of going to funeral after funeral of young people, we should be going to graduation parties."

In about eight years, Boys to Men has spread to a dozen suburban area schools and about 200 young men have been through the program. All of them graduated high school, and the majority went on to college or the military.

Meliton Chaidez is a Junior member. Boys to Men helped him get a poem he wrote about his father into the Library of America. The soon-to-be seventh grader said his mentors have taught him a lot about what's life is like as an adult.

More at the link provided

Silver Spring mentoring program helps guide youth

Silver Spring mentoring program helps guide youth

At 13, Shawn Harrison knew he needed help.

He was fighting at school, experimenting with drugs and had seen people shot and stabbed. Still, he would drag himself out of bed on weekends to attend a young men's mentoring program at his church.

"I would do all this in school, and yet, for some reason, I was still drawn to the program," said Harrison, 23. "I would wake up Saturday and go in there and they'd say, ‘Hey, how you doing?' ... and I would tell them what happened."

Harrison credits the program, Rites of Passage, for helping him make it through that part of his life. A member of the first class, he is among more than 80 people who have attended the program since it began in 2000.

This week, the three-year program for black teens, offered through the People's Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring, celebrates its 10th anniversary. It was created to instill long-range values in its participants, said program Cofounder Norman Jones.

More at the link provided.

Michael Baisden Launches Mentoring Program

Michael Baisden Launches Mentoring Program

*Nationally-syndicated radio host Michael Baisden has created a campaign to encourage one million Americans to sign up as mentors for children in need through a national outreach effort.

The One Million Mentors Campaign to Save Our Kids will launch with its first event in Dallas on Feb. 17 and hit the road to visit 72 cities in a campaign-themed bus.

At each tour stop along the way, Baisden will host mentoring forums in partnership with local mentoring organizations and affiliates of Big Brothers Big Sisters, National Cares Mentoring Movement and 100 Black Men.

“The videotaped beating of Chicago teen Derrion Albert was truly the final straw for me,” said Baisden. “After seeing it broadcast repeatedly on national news I knew I needed to step up and get involved personally in the effort to save our kids. My hope is that by touring across the country, this national mentoring campaign will have an impact on some of these young people who need caring adults involved in their lives.”

100 Black Men of Chicago Mentoring Blog

100 Black Men of Chicago Mentoring Programs

Welcome to the 100 Black Men of Chicago Mentoring Blog. This Blog is to showcase our mentoring sites and the wonderful mentees that are involved with our programs. Our mentoring sites include 100BMC Westside, 100BMC Southside, and 100BMC Aurora.

More at the link provided

African-American male teachers try to be role models

African-American male teachers try to be role models

At a church service Sunday to honor African-American male teachers, the talk turned to the mentors who had made a difference in the lives of some black educators.

For George Maxey, the new principal at Raines High School, it was John Fox, a white teacher who inspired him in third grade, when Maxey lived in a housing project in Brooklyn, N.Y.

For Julius Paden, principal at private Lighthouse Christian School, it was the late Bernard Wilkes, basketball coach at Ribault High School for 30 years.

For Dwayne Thomas, assistant principal at Mandarin Middle School, it was Bud Hicks, who worked as a custodian at his school in Detroit.

The custodian encouraged Thomas, the son of a single mother, to go to school and keep up his grades. He took him to a Detroit Red Wings game. He nicknamed him "Slick" because he tried to slide out of work.

Mad Dads

General Background
The MAD DADS Organization...

MAD DADS is an acronym for Men Against Destruction-Defending Against Drugs and Social-Disorder. MAD DADS, INC. was founded in May of 1989 by a group of concerned Omaha, Nebraska parents who were fed up with gang violence and the unmolested flow of illegal drugs in our community.

We present ourselves as positive role models and concerned loving parents who are a visible presence in our neighborhoods against the negative forces destroying our children, our families and cities.  We started out of pain -- the pain of our children dying in the streets of their own communities. We were -- and still are -- tired of looking into the eyes of hollow youth who lacked hope, and who had ceased to dream. We realized that we could hold no one responsible for this but ourselves: we allowed it to happen. So we united as a handful of community fathers who now know that WE MUST BE THE FORCE BEHIND THE CHANGE.

From a genesis of only 18 men in Omaha, MAD DADS has grown to over 75,000 men, women and children nationally, with 60 plus Chapters in 17 states.  Chapters have been started in the following states: Nebraska, Maryland, Iowa, Ohio, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, Illinois, California, Michigan, New Jersey, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Some Chapters also have divisions of MOMS and KIDS.

More at the link provided.

Fort Pierce Chapter of Mad Dads to Honor Those Who Completed FAMU Program

Fort Pierce chapter of Mad Dads to honor those who completed FAMU program

Abelard Cesar is now a confident 17-year-old boy who plans to be a computer engineer and expects to attend Florida A&M University in a few years.

He credits that confidence to the Mad Dads Fort Pierce chapter, which sent him, along with six other high- and middle-school teens, to an intensive summer study program at FAMU.

Those teens are being recognized by Mad Dads for completing the Black Male College Explorer program at a ceremony Sept. 19 at Lincoln Park Community Center on Avenue M.

Mad Dads is a nonprofit organization mentoring boys with an eye to help them succeed in school and in their personal lives.

The Explorer’s college program is designed to keep black male students on track for college and give them a chance at success. Students who do well receive an all-expenses-paid first semester at FAMU, along with mentoring and assistance in applying for financial aid.

More at the link provided.

National OK Program

National O.K. Program

The O.K. Program is a mentor program, which fosters partnerships between police agencies, schools, students, community members, and the business and faith community to provide positive guidance and support to African American males 12-18 years old.

The primary goal of the program is to reduce the high rates of incarceration and homicide of young African American males by guiding them away from prison and towards college, military service, vocational training, and a life of responsible citizenship.

Under the guidance of an African American police officer, the program organizes responsible African American adult males to serve as positive role models and mentors for their younger counterparts. The adults in the program are called TEAMMATES, because the O.K. Program is based on a team-mentoring concept. Each teammate is importance to the team’s success. This concept provides the organizational structure necessary to allow teammates an opportunity to address specific issues, as identified in the program goals, which contribute to the high rates of incarceration and homicide of African American males.

School administrators and teachers play a critical role in the O.K. Program. Together, administrators and teachers provide a level of support to O.K. Program coordinators and students that are necessary for the program to be successful. This support encourages O.K. Students to excel and achieve a high level of academic excellence. Students in the program receive awards for their efforts, achievements and successes. Also, an incremental reward system is an important component for the O.K. Program.

Every Saturday, KIC’IT (Kids Interacting Communicating Immix Teammates) Sessions brings together O.K. Program coordinators and teammates to tutor and share life experiences with young African American males. During KIC’IT Session, students learn that they are responsible for their future. They also learn that they must always strive for excellence, compete for the best grades, be respectful, seek to make positive contributions to their families and communities, and are taught how to interact with police when contacted by an officer.

Black Star Project Joins Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement

Black Star Project Joins Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement

The Black Star Project will receive $50,000 from the Open Society Institute to support the Million Father March and a school-based program that engages Black men as mentors and tutors in the Chicago Public School System. The grant was awarded through OSI’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement, a three-year grantmaking initiative to address, and help reverse, the ways in which African-American boys and men are stigmatized, criminalized, and excluded from the U.S. economic and political mainstream.

Even as Americans elected their first Black president, the end of 2008 saw an onslaught of dire reports on the educational, social and economic outcomes for Black males in America. Sky-high dropout rates for high-school students, an out-of-control murder rate for 14- to 17-year olds and a 72 percent unemployment rate for high-school dropouts paint a bleak forecast for young Black men.

The Black Star Project has joined with the Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement to address these issues. With the support of the Campaign, Black Star will expand its successful Million Father March and also launch an initiative that uses school-based strategies to recruit Black male tutors and mentors. Research by the National Fatherhood Initiative shows that children, male and female, perform better in school, at home and in life when their father takes an active and positive role in their lives. Additionally, Black male tutors and mentors provide measurable guidance for Black boys and young Black males in America.

More at the link provided.

Running Rebels Youth Programs

Running Rebels Youth Programs

The Running Rebels Community Organization (RRCO) is a private, non profit 501(c)(3) organization, located in Milwaukee’s central city, and began in 1980. as a small group of volunteers committed to helping the youth in their neighborhood stay off the street and in school through recreation, discussion groups, and educational field trips. Its mission is to help Milwaukee youth to develop mentally, physically, and spiritually. Most staff are minorities and reside in the central city. While the agency serves more than one thousand 4-18 year old children and youth and their families throughout Milwaukee County, the great majority of clients live in the central city and range in age from 10-15 years. About 90% are African-American, 90% are male, and most are referred through the court system and have had serious problems in family, school, and community. The majority of RRCO’s 60 paid staff (part- and full-time) are multi-cultured, and the seven-member volunteer Board of Directors are composed of minorities. Ten program volunteers and two office volunteers also work with the organization. Programs are funded through a variety of sources, including purchase of service contracts with Milwaukee County’s contracted managed care agencies, the Milwaukee County Probation Services Network and foundation grants.

Black Girls Rock! Inc

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc,  is a mentoring outreach program targeting "at risk" teenage women of color. This charity has been established to promote the arts and to encourage dialogue about the images of women in hip-0hop music & culture, as well as promote analysis of the ways women of color are portrayed in main stream media. one of the goals of the organization is to combat the psychological effects of the disproportionate number of negative images of black women depicted in the media and make a difference in the lives of young women of color wh are most affected by this one sided imagery. by raising awareness and offering support through discussion, edication, counseling, interhips mentoing and advocacy, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc, seeks to build the self-estem and selfworth of these yong ladies there-by changing their out-look on life, brodening their horizons and helping them to emower themselves.

Black Men Rising

Black Men Rising

Black Men Rising Black Men Rising is a group of men and women dedicated to using technology to help African American families live more productive and healthy lives.

BMR was started in Pittsburgh (PA) in 1997 by a group of men who were part of Northside Common Ministries Supportive Housing Project. This program was designed to help formerly homeless men acquire and maintain stable housing. The BMR project was designed to help reintegrate these men back into the community. All the men were residents of Pittsburgh's Northside.

BMR was aware from its inception of the need for more involvement by the African American population with the usage of information technology tools. At first we were primarily concerned with mentoring children. Our targeted areas were the California -Kirkbride, Central Northside, and Manchester neighborhoods. We chose these neighborhoods because all of our men lived in or near them and also because our research showed that there was a high incidence of single (women) parented homes.

To address these issues, we developed an outreach program that has a flag football league, African American history classes and gatherings that promote family and community unity. Over the past four years our emphasis has changed from not only serving children but also teaching computer skills to the adults of the community. We received our first computer donations from Primary Care Health Services and the University of Pittsburgh. In 1998, BMR received the JC Penny Golden Rule Award for our work.

One of the hallmarks of our program has been parental participation. We realize that the whole family must invest in the learning process so we encourage and expect children to be accompanied by their parents.This produces unique opportunities not only for the child but also for the parent

More at the link provided.

Student African American Brotherhood (S.A.A.B.)

Student African-American Brotherhoold (S.A.A.B.)

Mission

The Student African American Brotherhood Organization is a dynamic organization established specifically to assist our participants to excel academically, socially, culturally, professionally, and in the community. SAAB is primarily comprised of male students who strive for academic excellence and make a commitment to plan and implement programs that benefit their community at large. We encourage our participants to embrace leadership by being positive examples for each other through a strong commitment to academic achievement , brotherhood, and community service. We provide weekly study sessions, weekly developmental seminars for students of all ages, business meetings, social and religious activities, and work with various non-profit service agencies (i.e., Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Boys Club, etc.).

 

FedEx African-American Network launches new mentoring program

FedEx African-American Network Launches New Mentoring Program

“Every child is entitled to an education that prepares them to compete in a global economy,” said Supt. Kriner Cash.

About 200 FedEx employees recently attended a kickoff luncheon to celebrate a local mentoring initiative sponsored by the FedEx African-American Network. The African-American Network will coordinate the program through Memphis Cares, a part of the National Cares Mentoring Movement that encourages able adults to mentor at-risk youth via a trusted mentoring organization.

The luncheon highlight was the keynote message by Dr. Kriner Cash, superintendent of Memphis City Schools. Dr. Cash told the FedEx group that he would like to see all segments of the community come together to uplift the city’s children and give them new hope for the future. “Every child is entitled to an education that prepares them to compete in a global economy,” he said.    

Through Memphis Cares, the African-American Network will work with five well-established area agencies to sponsor one-on-one as well as group relationship-building opportunities for Memphis-area youth. The participating agencies are the U.S. Dream Academy, Streets Ministries, Memphis City Schools – CONNECT; Exchange Club Family Center, and Kappa Alpha Psi - Memphis Alumni Chapter’s Kappa Days of Caring. Each agency has subject-matter-experts, screening processes and training materials already in place

The Leadership Group

The Leadership Group

Barksdale, a vice president at Bank of America in Charlotte, author and motivational speaker who stayed in Rock Hill after college, is more than a mentor for one young black man. Barksdale runs an outfit called The Leadership Group, where he brings together black teenage boys in Rock Hill for the sole reason that he refuses to allow any to fail. There are a dozen young men in the group.

"All I want to do is make sure every one of these young men have every tool to lead successful lives," Barksdale said. "The future is where we look. Always, we look ahead."

Barksdale shoots straight. He tells teens flat out that society's expectations for them might not be as high as for others -- but that is unacceptable. It is impossible to get away from the disturbing facts that black men in America are imprisoned more, and educated less, than other groups.

He refuses to accept that result for the next generation. Black men can, must, achieve.

"I was raised in a single-parent home in Laurens, I know what faces these young men," he said. "I want to help them help themselves."

At church, Barksdale met a lady whose son was a top student and athlete, but needed a male role model. Patrick Cunningham, now 17, joined the group and has never looked back.

"I know from this group that I can be an honor roll student and anything else I want to be," Patrick said. "I guess I am a young male trying to become a man."

The Leadership Group

The Leadership Group

Barksdale, a vice president at Bank of America in Charlotte, author and motivational speaker who stayed in Rock Hill after college, is more than a mentor for one young black man. Barksdale runs an outfit called The Leadership Group, where he brings together black teenage boys in Rock Hill for the sole reason that he refuses to allow any to fail. There are a dozen young men in the group.

"All I want to do is make sure every one of these young men have every tool to lead successful lives," Barksdale said. "The future is where we look. Always, we look ahead."

Barksdale shoots straight. He tells teens flat out that society's expectations for them might not be as high as for others -- but that is unacceptable. It is impossible to get away from the disturbing facts that black men in America are imprisoned more, and educated less, than other groups.

He refuses to accept that result for the next generation. Black men can, must, achieve.

"I was raised in a single-parent home in Laurens, I know what faces these young men," he said. "I want to help them help themselves."

At church, Barksdale met a lady whose son was a top student and athlete, but needed a male role model. Patrick Cunningham, now 17, joined the group and has never looked back.

"I know from this group that I can be an honor roll student and anything else I want to be," Patrick said. "I guess I am a young male trying to become a man."

100 Black Men's Back to School Picnic a hit

100 Black Men's Back to School Picnic A Hit

Al Studesville watched the children and teenagers, some as young as 4 or 5 years old, mill about Demetral Field Saturday afternoon at the 100 Black Men's Back to School Picnic, each carrying a brand-new backpack filled with school supplies.

"The backpacks are almost as big as they are," he said, laughing.

Studesville is one of the original members of the Madison chapter of the organization, which promotes leadership and improvement among the city's African-American community. Besides the annual picnic, the group provides tutoring and mentoring for students and organizes events such as an annual gala, a golf outing and an African American History Challenge Bowl that quizzes local teens on black history and provides scholarships to winning teams for a trip to the national event.

Studesville said the idea for the backpack giveaway came from members who participated in the tutoring program, who soon learned that many children who they taught did not have enough supplies for school. Every year since 1996, the organization has given away hundreds of free backpacks filled with school supplies such as notebooks, folders, rulers, markers and pencils to children of all ages and races at the event.

CBM and 100 Black Men, Doing The Thang

CBM Partners with school system to help black boys

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Some Albany men want to make sure students get on the right track at an early age.

 Concerned Black Men of Albany is partnering with the Dougherty County school system to mentor and encourage African American boys in Kindergarten through third grade at Magnolia and Alice Coachman Elementary schools.

Alice Coachman principal Pat Victor compares the men's support to a tomato plant being supported by a garden stake. 

"If you stake them, your tomatoes will grow up to be fine tomatoes and not fall on the ground. So this is the intent, to make sure those young men get the support they need to be fine productive citizens," says Victor.

100 Black Men award $61K in scholarships

The 100 Black Men of Bradley County take a holistic approach to "breaking the cycle ... reaching out ... reaching back" in their efforts to improve the quality of young people's lives. The mentors focused Saturday morning on rewarding youths who have chosen to pursue education.

Scholarship checks averaging $1,800 were presented to 19 college students and scholarship accounts of about $1,550 each were opened in the names of 11 middle and high school students. The total amount of scholarships in 2008 equaled $61,000.

The community leaders have awarded more than $250,000 during the program's 12-year-existence.

100 Black Men of Baton Rouge Partners with Edison Learning

Baton Rouge, LA – 100 Black Men of Baton Rouge and EdisonLearning, the leading education company partnering with public schools in the United States, will welcome students for the first day of classes at the new Capitol High Academy for Boys and Girls on Thursday, August 7.  Capitol High Academy is located at 1000 N. 23rd Street in Baton Rouge.  Dawn Green is the school’s new principal.

“One of the greatest things you can ever do in life is to help someone else achieve their goals and dreams,” said John F. Smith, vice president of programs for the 100 Black Men. “Our collaboration with EdisonLearning, and with the support of parents, we will create a solid foundation for the future of our children’s education here at Capitol High Academy, and help them to fulfill their dreams.”

Fifth Ward Enrichment Program

The Fifth Ward Enrichment Program, Incorporated

The Fifth Ward Enrichment Program Incorporated (FWEP) is a youth leadership and development program for at-risk males, ages 12 - 19, located in one of Houston 's most economically depressed neighborhoods.

Founded in 1984, FWEP offers to 250 inner-city African American and Latino youth more than 20 support services that deter chemical dependency, teen pregnancy, school delinquency and dropouts, while promoting self-discipline, personal accountability, and self-esteem. These services are provided year-round through the School-based Projects, and the Teen Enterprise Center (TEC).

The School-based Project is the core program and truly defines the holistic approach to youth development that FWEP embraces. This project is housed in five schools in the Houston Independent School District 's (HISD) Northeast District and provides site coordinators who monitor school activities, interact with teachers and administrators, and coordinate daily, after-school activities. The site coordinators are responsible for the delivery of the life skills curriculum, home visits, and individual and group counseling sessions. The site coordinator is recognized by the school's youth as their mentor "on campus".

Future Black Men of America, Inc

Future Black Men Of America

In 2002 Future Black Men of America, Inc. (FBMA) was born in the mind of its founder Antoine Medley.
"The young black boys of today need the help of black men in society. It is up to us and no one else." -Antoine Medley

The organization was formally organized and incorporated as a non-profit organization in February of 2004 in the state of North Carolina. The organization also received its 501(c)3 Tax Exemption Status from the IRS in 2004.

FBMA, truly believes that young black boys need to be exposed to positive African American male role models, and positive experiences. The organization believes that black boys need to know that with hard work, sacrifice, and faith they can achieve anything. FBMA provides a variety of programs to positively alter the futures of our African American boys. Currently there are many organizations that provide similar programs but no one organization can reach all of the young males in need and for this reason FBMA was born.

The National Organization organizes and provides college tours, community activities, and mentoring for our young black men. The current education gap between young African American boys and other races is quickly widening therefore all of the FBMA programs are all geared towards closing that gap. The National Organization is currently accepting applications for the creation of new chapters around the United States. Currently there are chapters pending in Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA.

The organization is only as strong as its members. Members are needed to provide and plan our programs. African American men are needed.
"We are inevitably our brothers' keepers because we are our brothers' brother. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood

Opening Eyes, Minds

The trip to Connecticut was part of a program called "Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood," an effort to expose young Baltimore-area men to male role models and new experiences while helping them connect with their peers. Although it has been around for 12 years and served more than 8,000 boys, it exists solely because its organizer, Cameron Miles, is willing to beg for donations and go into his own pocket to help finance excursions.

He also seems to know all the right people. At the group's monthly meetings at Coppin State University, Miles presents a parade of important guests: Judge Robert M. Bell, chief of the Maryland Court of Appeals; television reporter Barry Simms; Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy. Miles bumped into city Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III at a restaurant a few months ago and invited him to the April meeting.

"Frankly, I was blown away," Bealefeld said, "not just by his commitment, but by the manner in which he engaged the young men and by the substance of his message."

More at the link provided.

Black Scholars

Urban League of Rochester Salutes, Helps Black Scholars

Leonard, of Webster, will speak of that confidence and of her belief that one should "never give up ... no matter how hard things are," when she speaks before the Urban League of Rochester's "Salute to Black Scholars" recognition dinner on Tuesday.

Since its inception in 1980, the Black Scholars program has recognized more than 5,700 area students for their outstanding academic achievement. Leonard was named a Black Scholar during each of her four years at Edison.

She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in computer engineering and a master's in business administration from Clarkson University.

Leonard praises the Black Scholars program for being part of a support network that bolstered her confidence and emphasized the importance of staying focused on one's goals and giving back to the community.

She joins a chorus of Black Scholars who say the program has benefited them.

More at the link provided.

Project Alpha

Project Alpha

The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the first black Greek letter fraternity in the nation, understands the importance of a community of support in every youth’s life, specifically focusing on fatherless African American boys and their need for a strong, male role model. The word mentor means a wise and trusted counselor or teacher or an influential senior sponsor of supporter. Even boys with supportive fathers in their lives can benefit from the program objectives set forth by this altruistic group of young men and their mission to nurture other male youth.

Through their partnership with the March of Dimes, Alpha Phi Alpha’s Project Alpha seeks to provide mentoring to at-risk youth working within the African American community. Project Alpha is a national initiative that seeks to provide “education, motivation and skill-building on issues of responsibility,” teaching young men ages 12 to 15 about fatherhood and the role of males in healthy relationships. Their program includes education on abstinence, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy in the hopes of inspiring wise decision making in the future.

Young Men Making Moves

Making Their Moves

But the euphoria was short-lived. Community activist William Shelton, who paid for the suits, heard his name over the loudspeaker. Eight Kenneth Cole watches were missing. Security cameras showed that some of his charges had stolen them -- a dispiriting reminder that while Shelton can take young men out of the Toga, wrenching the Toga out of them is far more difficult.

"You disrespected everything we are trying to do," Shelton scolded them a few days later in his office at Brookland Manor, where he is community relations coordinator. "At what point do you make a decision to do something positive with your life? You say you want jobs, but how can I send you out to jobs if I can't trust you? This is your life. You have to get rid of this get-over mentality."

It is a message preached daily by crusaders in the city's toughest neighborhoods: If you don't make better choices, you'll end up dead or behind bars. The message is sometimes heeded, sometimes ignored. But at community centers, schools and street corners across the city, mentors like Shelton are betting that individualized attention can make a big difference.

Most of the programs are aimed at disaffected young black men who are most likely to drop out of school, be unemployed or go to jail. They are either volunteer-supported or receive funding from city agencies, including schools, employment services and recreation, and juvenile justice. Many are tiny, draw from a single neighborhood and act as surrogate parents.

More at the link provided.