Posts Tagged ‘100 black men’
Mentoring Organization Awards 18 Scholarships
SOURCE:WAPT.com
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A Jackson mentoring organization celebrated its 20th anniversary tonight by awarding scholarships.The 100 Black Men of Jackson Incorporated hosted its celebration at the Walter Payton Center on Jackson State’s campus. The group recognized the accomplishments of the young men they mentor.Eighteen high school seniors were presented scholarships.”We work with our young people to try to help them chart a positive pathway through life such that they know where they are going from grade school to high school and on to college such that they become good productive citizens when they complete that education and go into their career,” said Shelton Swanier, President of 100 Black Men of Jackson.The mission of the 100 Black Men of America is to improve the quality of life within communities and enhance educational and economic opportunities for African Americans.
Eagle Academy unveils state of the art facilities
By Art McFarland, WABC
The new multi-million dollar home for the Eagle Academy is seen as the fulfillment of a promise by the city.
“The Eagle Academy finally has its own nest and the opportunities that are here in this building for these young people are just simply extraordinary,” said David Banks, the Eagle Foundation President.
The Academy was founded by the group, “100 Black Men”, and began with the clear mission of helping to solve the problem that black and Hispanic young men are the least likely to graduate from high school. Read the rest of this entry »
100 Black Men guided by Love
by CNYLink
Men’s organization plans celebration of women’s achievements:
One founded a volunteer effort that distributes free school supplies to thousands of needy children each year. Another continues an enviable record in both higher education and local government, while still another left the political scene to become an entrepreneurial role model on the city’s south side. They’re among eight women of accomplishment to be honored Dec. 6, by the 100 Black Men of Syracuse Inc. Interest Group at Onondaga Community College.
The women will be feted during the non-profit organization’s inaugural honors dinner-dance − “Celebrating Women Making a Difference,” a fund-raising event that begins at 5:30 p.m. at OCC’s Gordon Student Center Great Room. Among the other honorees are the co-founder of Syracuse’s first African-American pre-school, a television news anchor who has become a local broadcast institution, and a senior financial planner. Read the rest of this entry »
Mentors Take a Swing with Young Golfers
by Carly Flynn Morgan, 13WMAZ
A local men’s group took a swing at mentoring young golfers Saturday.
100 Black Men of Macon Middle Georgia played golf with young men from the Rights of Passage Youth Development Program. They’re all middle school boys from single mother families who might not have a father-figure to teach them to hit the ball around. They gathered at Bowden Golf Course in Macon.
“It’s going to take all of us working together to help insure that the youth of our community will be positive contributors to the Central Georgia area and the greater community,” said Tom Sands, President of 100 Black Men in Macon.
The program isn’t all fun and games, though. The kids also learn important life lessons.
“We get to do things that we haven’t done lately and it’s really educational and it teaches us how to get our life on the right track,” said Anthony Vinson who participates in the program.
100 Black Men of Macon Middle Georgia meet with boys from Rights of Passage once a month, for fun and educational activities.
100 Black Men set for annual fund-raiser
The annual 100 Black Men Black Tie Ball and Dinner is the largest fund-raising activity of the year for the organization.
The event will start at 6 p.m. Oct. 25, at Lewis and Clark Community College Commons Center in Godfrey.
Cocktails start the night at 6 p.m. with a sit-down dinner to follow at 7 p.m.
“Our organization is constantly striving to improve its work in our community and its commitment to our youth,” said Robert Wills, president of the Alton chapter of the 100 Black Men. “We believe that a collective approach involving all of us working together is the best way to achieve that goal. We hope that we can continue to count on the community’s support to make more of our youth successful and productive citizens.”
Local organization takes kids to camp
by Ashley Youngblood
Arkansas Matters
A group of local kids are putting their health concerns on hold for a week of fun at a special camp. This morning, children left for Camp Dream Street in Oklahoma. These kids are battling cancer, hemophilia, sickle cell anemia and other blood related diseases, but for one week, swimming, camping, fishing, and making new friends will take the place of doctor’s visits and blood tests. Members of the organization, 100 Black Men are providing the transportation to the camp. “With gas prices the way they are, we’ve got several requests that we can assist to get the students to camp. This camp is held every year, but this year some of the parents are having a difficult time,” said Eddie White, President of the local chapter of 100 Black Men. 100 Black Men is a world wide organization committed to mentoring, educating, and motivating young people.
100 Black Men program pairs education and life lessons
by Jordan Novet
Commercial Dispatch
They’ve had six days to soar before heading back home.
Fourteen black young men entering eighth or ninth grade in northeast Mississippi public schools have been learning about Web design, creative writing, literacy, judo and other subjects at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science since Sunday, as part of the 100 Black Men’s Summer Research Institute for African-American Males.
And the programs have been “inspiring,” encouraging students to find “a better place in life,” according to the students.
“Very inspirational,” Quentin White, an incoming eighth-grader at New Hope Middle School, said after a Monday night leadership session with Jim Parkinson, a California lawyer and co-author of the book “Soldier Slaves,” which recounts details of serving as counsel for American soldiers captured by the Japanese in World War II and used as slave laborers.
White is the son of Monalease and Frazier White.
Passing on Paris
Parkinson had skipped out on jetting out to Paris or Africa for his 36th anniversary to speak at MSMS’s Hooper Auditorium.
“… even though it’s his anniversary, he’d rather be here for us than with his wife. And that just means a lot. If I ever get a wife, I can’t imagine myself in that situation,” White said.
“I made a decision that when I was invited to come here, to the 100 Black Men of Columbus, Miss., program for you, I told my wife that this was the most important talk I’m ever gonna give, because you matter,” Parkinson said during his speech.
“So I said, ‘We’re not gonna spend our anniversary in some fancy resort. We’re going to Columbus, Miss.,’” he continued.
Powerful tools
Parkinson proceeded to demonstrate the importance of knowing the difference between regardless and irregardless (the latter is not a word) and the difference between flammable and inflammable (they mean the same thing). He also told the boys about historic black Americans Frederick Douglass, who learned to read while enslaved, and Malcolm X, a civil rights leader.
He also promised the boys if they would read his book — which he provided them autographed copies of — and then write him a letter, he would send them a $50 check.
Terrence Payne, another incoming eighth-grader at New Hope Middle School, said he would try to read Parkinson’s book.
Reading
“I don’t like reading, but I’m probably gonna read his book, just ’cuz he took time from his anniversary to talk to us,” said Payne, son of Arron and Letitia Payne.
And Jalen Peterson, an incoming ninth-grader at East Oktibbeha County High School, called the session “great.”
“We could make our life better, and we could be whatever we wanna be, and we can make a better place in life,” said Peterson, Shelia and John Peterson’s son.
The week has been filled with leadership speakers for the 14 young men. Today is the last day of programs for the students before they pack up and head home.
The program stems from the school’s collaboration with the Columbus chapter of the national service organization 100 Black Men.
Tools of success
The goal of the program is to give the young men “the tools in helping them to be successful,” said Dennis Irby, the secretary and treasurer of the local chapter. “So, consequently, we take them out of an environment they’re used to and put them … into an environment where they would greater excel. … All we could see coming from that was positive.”
This year’s program cost 100 Black Men $10,000, which comes from corporate donations and membership dues, and there is no charge for the students.
The summer program began after Robinson had a conversation in 1996 with Mike Neyman, a former director of MSMS, and Bernard Bridges, a commercial loan officer for Trustmark, about how young black people weren’t choosing engineering, teaching science and dentistry as career paths.
‘Stimulating interest’
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could somehow start stimulating interest (in those fields)?” Robinson had said. “Maybe we could see an increase in computer scientists, and engineering.”
About a year later, Robinson and Irby sat down with MSMS staffers and created a curriculum for the camp.
100 Black Men wanted the kids to learn, Irby said.
Then MSMS contacted public schools in various northeast Mississippi counties, which tapped certain students to take part in the program. The first camp was held that year.
Mentors honored at inaugural celebration
by Angelo Lanham
Spartan Daily
At the first annual Collegiate 100 Black Men Silicon Valley program/dinner on Sunday, about 40 honorees and families sat between a long table full of food, courtesy of Spartan Catering, and vice president of the SJSU branch DeMarcus Hewitt.
He said the concept of the national organization began in New York in 1963 as an attempt to improve the quality of life for blacks and other minorities.
The SJSU branch, he said, started last fall.
It is particularly useful for a younger generation to speak to these even younger students for reasons of communication, former president Bill Hendricks said.
“Sometimes, we just don’t get it,” Hendricks said, referencing the difficulties of talking to a younger generation in a way they will be receptive.
He also emphasized that without community involvement, mentoring programs like 100 Black Men would not work.
Andre Barnes , SJSU chief of police and staff advisor for the SJSU organization, said there are 200 of the 100 Black Men Collegiate nation wide.
Barnes said the group talks to fraternities and campus clubs about mentoring them and pairs them up with a specific mentor. The initiates are then recruited to talk to high schools and middle schools.
Joel Bridgeman, graduating senior and one of the honorees, said in his speech he was happy the organization had reached the West Coast, though he was sorry he couldn’t be a part of the organization, since it came together when he was on his way out. He was later inducted as a surprise.
“Growing up in Richmond,” he said, “we weren’t worried about the goals the 100 encourages.”
Bridgeman mentioned the importance of breaking what he called a “cycle” of getting arrested and returning to the streets for the youth living in underprivileged communities. He said in his public schools, there were no role models, windows or books, and instead there were “metal detectors, and more security guards than counselors.”
“Mentoring is an important thing. I wouldn’t be here without a mentor,” Bridgeman said.
About a half-hour after the metal covers had been removed from the food and dinner was served, Raysean Ford sang a song titled ‘Thank You” a capella, best summed up by the passage “In spite of everything I’ve been through / I’ve still got to say ‘thank you.'”
Corey Baker, a senior computer engineering major who said he was one of the 12 founding members, said it was nice to be honored before he graduated.
“I feel great,” Baker, 23, said. “I’ve been waiting to graduate. I’m the first person to graduate in my family.”
Will Turner, a sophomore physics major who helped chair the event, said he was happy with the turnout.
“I feel that it’s good,” said Turner, 20. “The focus is different than other organizations in SJSU.”
Turner said the most unique aspect of the group is that it focuses on the black community with no emphasis on any particular academic major.
“It went very well,” said Milan Balinton, president of the SJSU branch of the collegiate 100 and a junior communication studies major.
“Very classy, very professional, which is what we were going for,” Balinton, 26, said. “I hope it’ll grow to the capacity of the national organization.”
100 Black Men help boys succeed
by Janell Ross
Tennesseean
Statistically, the odds are grim.
Black men seeking work are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as their white counterparts, according the National Urban League’s 2007 annual report. Black men are nearly seven times more likely than white to be incarcerated, according to the most recent Bureau of Justice Statistics.
And black boys born as recently as 2005 can expect life spans 6.2 years shorter than white boys born the same year, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This sort of data makes improving the lives of black boys an essential part of what Adrian Granderson, president and CEO of 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, sees as his organization’s job.
“What we started…it is more than a program. It was and is an imperative,” Granderson said.
Leader is stepping down
Granderson, 32, who has served as the organization’s leader for the last 13 years, will step down at the end of this month. Granderson has spent the last week preparing for the group’s annual gala — which helps to cover the cost of 100 Black Men’s programs, scholarships and much of just over $500,000 budget.
In the days leading up to tonight’s event, Granderson stopped to reflect on his tenure and the organization’s impact.
In 1991, the nonprofit identified nearly two dozen fifth-grade Ross Elementary boys in Metro Nashville. The organization promised to offer the young men mentoring, group academic enrichment, character education and exposure to social, cultural and career options until their high school graduations in 2003.
By 1997, the organization had taken another group under its wing, 50 seventh- and eighth-graders due to graduate high school in 2003 and 2004. And, in 2003 the organization “adopted” a third group, 116 fifth-grade boys from every Metro Nashville middle school.
James Cooper was one of those boys. Cooper, 16, a sophomore at Martin Luther King High School, has dreams of becoming an engineer or architect. He has a 3.5 GPA, but he said he needed the 63 members of 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee and its program.
“Having access to a group of men, successful black men, it’s like having … the right path and somebody to show you how to walk it,” he said.
In the end, two of the students in the first group went on to college and received full financial support from 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee. At least 25 of the young men in the second group have done the same with some financial support. And since 2003, the organization has paid nearly $400,000 in college costs.
But, the group has also faced its challenges and tragedies. Nearly 30 of the students in the third group have moved away or simply dropped out of the program. Some are in jail. One was shot and killed.
“These are young men who, in many cases are contending with serious choices and serious socioeconomic disadvantage,” said Granderson. “What we have tried to do is stand in that gap, show them they do have potential and that they are going to have to step up to the plate and make sure that they themselves have a future.”
William H. Hayling Honored
Each year at Commencement, Boston University singles out people from all walks of life who have contributed to society, and bestows on them an honorary degree. Among this year’s recipients is William H. Hayling, a physician and a founder of 100 Black Men, an organization designed to improve the quality of life for African-Americans and other minorities, especially through mentoring programs. Hayling is also this year’s Baccalaureate speaker.
Hayling was born in Trenton, N.J., in 1925. His father, a physician, died in 1939, but his legacy of caring for families inspired William to enter medicine. At 17, he was admitted to Boston University, where he took summer courses, tested out of requirements, found time to play varsity basketball and baseball, and at the age of 19 gained admission to Howard University College of Medicine.
Upon graduating from Howard, Hayling completed an internship at Harlem Hospital in New York and began a residency in obstetrics. In 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a captain and was a battlefield surgeon with a MASH unit in Korea, earning a Bronze Star. After returning to New York, he completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx.
Over the course of his career Hayling delivered more than 8,000 babies. He was in private practice in Newark, N.J., from 1957 to 1981 and was chief of ambulatory obstetrics and gynecology at Martin Luther King, Jr., Hospital in Los Angeles from 1981 to 1998, with a faculty appointment at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. After retiring from King/Drew, he oversaw the care of patients at a family medical clinic in Lynnwood, Calif. He is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of the American College of Surgeons.
Hayling is most widely known for his work outside medicine. In 1963, he and several other community leaders, including David Dinkins, who later became mayor of New York City, and baseball legend Jackie Robinson, formed 100 Black Men. The organization grew as chapters were formed around the country. Hayling was elected the first national president of 100 Black Men of America in 1983.
Today, he volunteers with Mentoring Today for Tomorrow, an after-school program for young people ages 9 through 18 in California’s Riverside County.
SOURCE: Boston University
100 Black Men charity golf tourney
The 100 Black Men of Albany kicked off a weekend of community activities with a charity golf tournament at the Flint River Municipal Golf Course. NFL Hall of Fame defensive player Rayfield White was honored to be a part of the event because “the purpose of this is to generate funds to help young kids and that’s what it is all about.” The money will go to the organization’s education and health care initiatives.
SOURCE: WFXL
Area judges share experience at 100 Black Men event
Honoring the accomplishments of students, educating the public about the judicial process and thanking organizations committed to the community were central themes at the 100 Black Men of Greater Beaumont scholarship dinner banquet.
A panel discussion with area judges about the differences in the various court systems and issues germane to criminal justice field was a part of the Friday program.
Panelists included 172nd State District Judge Donald Floyd, 58th state District Judge Bob Wortham, County Court at Law No. 3 Judge John Paul Davis and County Court at Law No. 2 Judge G.R. “Lupe” Flores.
During a brief discussion about the jury system, Wortham said as a whole, minorities do not participate by showing up once they have been summoned for jury duty. He urged people at the event to tell others to serve, ensuring the accused gets a jury of his or her peers who actually have a say-so in the matter.
Justice of the Peace Ransom “Duce” Jones delivered the keynote and urged the students in the audience to continue their education and be committed to making the grade.
At the event, the non-profit organization awarded savings bonds to seven area students who won an essay contest. Their names will appear on Monday’s Applause page in The Enterprise.
The bonds are a way to encourage kids to start saving and invest in their futures, president Vernon Durden said.
He added that not only will the student benefit, but families will learn to save as well.
The four major cornerstones of the organization are mentoring, economic development, health/wellness and education.
SOURCE: The Beaumont Enterprise
‘100 Black Men’ Changes Student’s Life
RALEIGH, N.C. – Jojuan Williams said he was headed for trouble when he started at Sanderson High School three years ago. He had failing grades and fistfights were part of his daily routine.
“I wanted to do what Jojuan wanted to do,” he said. “I wanted to be my own self but then I realized what Jojuan wanted to do wasn’t right.”
Then he began attending the 100 Black Men of America mentor sessions and his life changed for the better.
“They’re leaders and black men who have been successful. They may have been in a bad situation but turn their lives around,” said Cameron Harvey, another student in the program.
The 100 Black Men meet with the kids every other weekend, leading discussions about a variety of topics. They also go on field trips to places like the Governor’s mansion and to musical concerts, inspiring kids to think big. The teens agree it changed their entire perspective on life.
“Don’t be a follower, be a leader, be yourself and do what you want to do because it’s your future you control,” said student Jaylan Jackson.
Students from Sanderson High School are not the only people involved with the program. More than 50 teens from around the Triangle participate.
Student Kevin Bradley calls it an “extended family.”
“I spend time with these guys and I have an extended family, someone to hang out with and have fun with,” he said. “I have people to enjoy.”
Williams said he will never revert back to his old life.
“I see a whole different side to the African-American community. Everything is different,” Williams said.
He is even reaching out to other kids his age, encouraging them to join the 100 Black Men of America to assure that they, too, are on the path to success.
The 100 Black Men of America will be holding their annual gala at the Raleigh Sheraton Hotel at 7 p.m. April 19.
Tradition of Excellence 