Anderson@Large

What It Takes to Get Over

Philadelphia is revving up efforts to change the conversation about young black males. Anthony Martin, executive director and co-founder of What It Takes Foundation, is showing the way. WIT is a national outreach initiative to connect black boys with black men who can show them “what it takes” to achieve success.

Yesterday, I attended the launch of What It Takes E-mentoring program, which will use social media to connect 200 black males with 100 e-mentors in structured, caring online relationships.

Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Program Director for Philadelphia Knight Foundation, said the program will “show how technology can be used to engage people… It will show what technology can do when people come together.”

Indeed, Martin wants to augment the reality of what it means to be a black man:

Black males are portrayed in a negative light. When you’re portrayed in a negative light it becomes a negative reality… Kids see a lot of negativity and they start thinking negatively… We need more positive mentors in the community who can deliver the message about what it takes.

Martin said What It Takes will accentuate the positive:

Mentoring is vitally important… There are a lot of black men who are doing positive things and they need to be brought to light.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Anthony Junior, Education Program Manager for the Department of the Navy Office of Naval Research, is a black man who is doing positive things. He is also living proof of what can happen when someone takes the time to share knowledge and wisdom.

Dr. Junior shared his story of being one of those kids that folks cross the street to avoid. With the encouragement and support of a mentor, he went from a GS-4 federal employee to a high-ranking administrator and sought-after speaker with a Ph.D. from Jackson State University:

When you look at where people have arrived, you forget where they come from… Regardless of your circumstances, you were once that same kid, the disruptive kid, the kid who stayed out too late and knew too much.

He encourages young men to dream big:

Do you. Be you. You don’t need to be me. It’s not your circumstances that dictate where you are. Your blackness is not a handicap. Your blackness is a sword and shield that got you where you are.

Dr. Junior reminded us that we stand on the shoulders of unnamed and unsung heroes and heroines who cared enough to get involved in their community. Also, people who dreamed big.

If What It Takes takes root and is successful in Philly, Frisby-Greenwood said the Knight Foundation will roll it out across the country.

So if you have what it takes to show African American males how to get over the barriers to success, take the pledge.

Someone has to care.

BME in City of Brotherly Love

Philadelphia is the City of Innovators. Philly is now one of two cities with an innovative campaign to recognize “black men and boys leading in solutions, participating in decision-making and fully engaged in all issues and opportunities affecting their communities,” Black Male Engagement.

While the mainstream media sensationalizes “flash mobs,” BME (pronounced “Be me”) will tell untold Philadelphia stories. The stories of black males who likely carry a flash drive.

Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Program Director for Knight Foundation Philadelphia, said the City of Brotherly Love “has a chance to lead.” The campaign will “start with what is right rather than problems and challenges.”

That was music to the ears of Harvey L. Crudup, chairman of the Philadelphia Chapter of Concerned Black Men, a mentoring organization whose mission is “to develop and present youth in our community, particularly African American male youth, with programs and activities that motivate, educate and build self-esteem.”

Harvey told me:

I like the name – BME. That says it all. Their concept is the first time I’ve heard that in 36 years… Concerned Black Men focuses on the good kids… We highlight and recognize the good kids.

BME is not looking for Superman. Instead, they’re looking for “Average Joes” age 14 and older:

We’re not looking for perfection. We just want to share stories about the good things that black males do for their community, how you serve your neighborhood, your city and how you get others to join you. You don’t always realize that you are an example for the future leaders of our communities, so we’re asking the people around you to come forth and recognize you too.

BME will launch on August 1. In the meantime, I want to give a shout-out to the do-it-or-die brothers who dare to make a difference in their community.