The 100 Black Men of Greater Charlotte’s mentoring and education program started in 1991, and since then, over 600 young lives have been touched. One-on-one mentoring matches are made, and group mentoring is offered through Saturday Academies. The aim is for young Black men, the mentees, to develop high self-esteem and aspire to go to college through the presentation of sessions on study skills, life skills, etiquette, substance abuse prevention, financial literacy, leadership development, community service and cultural enrichment.
Candidates for the Movement of Youth (MOY) program are referred as 6th through 9th graders by school administrators or by request of family members. Currently 35 boys in 6th to 12th grades are being mentored.
Young people participating in programs offered by “the 100” have made national news. Two mentees won the 2009 Dollars and $ense financial investment competition, including a $3,000 scholarship each, at the national convention of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Two young ladies, student delegates representing the Charlotte chapter at the national convention in 2010, won the African American History Challenge senior division award, with a $3,000 scholarship each; two mentees in the 2010 junior division were finalists.
The Charlotte chapter of the 100 has a scholarship program for their mentees who maintain a 3.0 grade point average in high school. More than $292,000 in scholarships have been awarded since 1996. Since 2004, their MOY program graduates have had a 100% college enrollment rate.
Brian Willis, president of the Greater Charlotte chapter, says this about why he mentors: “. . . even with all the success I’ve been blessed with, I still think that I could have been more if there was a support system behind me. I truly believe that only a man can teach a boy to be a man. So it is my responsibility both personally and professionally to reach back and help someone . . . we must all share the responsibility of helping those that are looking up to us.”
Visit the 100 Black Men of Greater Charlotte’s website for more information.
Join the 100 Black Men of America social networks at:
www.myspace.com/100blackmenofamerica
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