The Community is a group of African American men from all walks of life under the tutelage and guidance of “elders” in the community; young men endeavoring to make positive changes in their lives and positive impact in the lives of others. The Community was founded to elevate the status of young black men in our community, to breathe life into their souls, to nurture their dreams, and to help them
realize their value not only to one another but also their families and the larger community. We are only a “community” when ALL MEMBERS are visible, active, and positively engaged. African American men have a rich heritage of contributing to the well-being and advancement of society. The young men of The Community endeavor to be well represented across every strata of our society for the benefit of all. They seek to enrich our community as a whole as well as their own lives. The Community was created to address three primary issues:
1.The need for young Black men to have a safe place to learn how to improve the quality of their lives.
2.The need to dispel myths about young black men and increase cultural competence across all sectors of our community.
3.The need for more African American male role models. We will address these issues by:
1.Providing education, training, and on-going support that focuses on the personal, professional and social development of each young man.
2. Providing opportunities for The Community members to engage diverse audiences, to share their truths and educate others beyond stereotypes.
3. Providing volunteer and outreach opportunities for each young man to give back and positively impact youth. There are three core aspects of “The Community” experience that benefit all members, which include:
Inspiration: to fill young men with a strong sense of possibilities for their lives; to create a hunger for more; to infuse them with hope and greater vision for their lives. Education: to develop and train on a variety of topics including but not limited to the study of one’s self and others, the psychology of winning, the seeds of greatness, family and spiritual matters, harnessing potential, building upon one’s strengths, health and wellness, leadership training, board governance, community structures, business systems, and many more. Connections: forming genuine relationships with other like-minded men who want to be, do and give more; with youth while serving as role models; with our community as we volunteer and serve; with “elders” from a variety of backgrounds who are willing to open doors, share their wisdom and expertise. Rather than focusing on the negative statistics overshadowing African American men, we focus on tapping into their unrealized potential and cultivating the dreams of each man. Young black men are not problems to be fixed but rather assets to be realized; gold to be mined! This is the BIG IDEA behind The Community
