Black Male Leadership program completes summer development

Category: Youth Published on Wednesday, 25 August 2010 09:50 Written by Courier Newsroom Hits: 3536

The 4th Annual Black Male Leadership Development Institute, sponsored by the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and Robert Morris University brought 65 boys in grades nine to 12 to Robert Morris University this summer for a week of seminars and workshops led by African-American male leaders from western Pennsylvania.

FUTURE LEADERS—Leaders of the future group are David Hamm, Joseph Pinno, Deandre Hanner, Joshua Graham, Dorian Jones, Paul Sanders and group leader Grey White.

Participation in the residential program was expanded from 50 students in 2009, and for the first time the institute engaged participants in ongoing programming throughout the school year with the help of an increased grant from the Heinz Endowments.

This year the theme was “The Road to Manhood: Blazing a New State of Mind.” A faculty of more than 20 successful African-American men—from the pulpit to the boardroom—motivated the youths by sharing their stories.

There were interactive group discussions on subjects ranging from “The Importance and Meaning of African American Leadership” to “Personal Accountability,” “Community Engagement,” and “The Media’s Portrayal of African-American Manhood.” Workshops on college and career preparation, values clarification, identity formation, teamwork, visioning and more.