OUR FOCUS
MENTORSHIP
Society needs to realize that at home, in neighborhoods, and in school, many students face difficulties that can interfere with learning and prevent a students personal growth and success. It is a fact disenfranchised students are more likely to be exposed to safety and health risks and less likely to receive regular medical care. They’re more likely to be victims of crime. They’re less likely to attend school are more likely to be identified as learning or emotionally disabled and placed in Special Education. These children need caring adults who will mentor them during turbulent times and not give up on them.
Am I My Brothers Keeper
President Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper in February 2014 to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color and to ensure all youth can reach their full potential. In 2015 the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance) was launched, inspired by My Brother’s Keeper, to scale and sustain this mission. In late 2017, MBK Alliance became an initiative of the Obama Foundation. Within the Obama Foundation, MBK Alliance focuses on building safe and supportive communities for boys and young men of color where they feel valued and have clear pathways to opportunity.
Ignorance Is No Defense
Ignorance is No Defense aspires to help teenagers avoid situations in which they violate the law or are hurt by others who violate the law. Through real-life examples, Ignorance Is No Defense explains Georgia laws to teenagers and helps them understand the consequences of their actions. Many teens face adverse positions because they do not fully understand the implications of decisions making. During this panel discussion seasoned and distinguished members of the legal and judicial system walk teens through the laws that dictate their outcomes and how critical thinking can be the difference between incarceration and prosperity.
Mental & Social Preparedness
Large-scale U.S. studies have reported that up to 3% of children and 8% of adolescents suffer from depression (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS], 2001). While data indicates that lifetime rates of depressive disorders almost double between the ages of 13 (8.4%) and 18 (15.4%) years. Unfortunately, half of the adolescents with severely impairing depressive disorders in the United States never receive mental health treatment for their symptoms and lack of mental health treatment is especially true for young, Black males (YBM), ages 12–29. During this session trained professionals helps teen males process traumatic experiences, emotions, and handle conflict resolution in a constructive way.
Social Responsibility
Among all people in the United States, the most needy and least helped are perhaps African-American men, according to a new book, Social Work With African American Males: Health, Mental Health and Social Policy, that details the disadvantages black men face and suggests ways society can help. Through our program, we seek to instill social responsibility and consciousness into young black males by creating active voters, community volunteers, youth mentors and demonstrated best practices that enhance our communities.