Mentoring young people is a rewarding activity that impacts our community. Not only do the young people benefit, but mentors learn as well. This reciprocal relationship can be formal or informal. There are national mentoring programs; one that has worked in our community for decades is the 100 Black Men of America Atlanta Chapter. This organization works with young boys and girls as they grow scholastically and professionally.
At this point, many of the young people who came through the program are now mentoring youth of their own. Louis Negron, the executive director of the Atlanta chapter joins us to speak about the program and their annual scholarship awards event coming up on October 5th.
In sharing some of the history of the organization, Negron mentions the names of Nathaniel Goldston, Maynard Jackson, and Thomas Dortch. These men were instrumental in the founding of the organization.
Negron explains how the men can establish relationships with young people. For young people, if they can see it…they can believe it. He speaks about integrity. Meaning what you say, and walking the walk not just talking the talk. While this might seem simple it makes a huge difference when working with young people. The men of the organization are working with the future of our community and let the young people know this.
He goes on to explain that often these young people are the first to graduate from high school. The first to go to college. All of the stories from the scholarship event are inspirational and uplifting.
For more information about the 100 Black Men Scholarship Event
For more information about the 100 Black Men of Atlanta