The Delta Mu Mu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Black Rhinos Mentoring Program has been designed to address the academic, social, and community issues that our students are confronted with daily. The program is designed to provide students to work independently and collectively in cooperative learning circles with selected tutors, mentors, and expert professionals from members of the Delta Mu Mu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
PROGRAM NAME:
Black Rhinos – The brothers of Delta Mu Mu recognize that the Black Rhino is an endangered species. In many respects of educational and statistical research, it could be said that educated, upwardly mobile, tax-paying African-American males are also an endangered species. It is our goal to help ensure that the participants in our program have the guidance to be successful.
PROGRAM FORMAT:
70+ participants (age 12 – 18) will be accepted into the program. Each student will work with a group of dedicated brothers who will help uplift him to be a better man. We will meet once a month as a group from 9am-1pm on most occasions. Each monthly session is designed to the specific needs of the students and covers the essentials of why our participants must value education as well as sharing some of the outcomes/consequences of choosing the wrong path. The program will run from September 2013 to June 2014 to coincide with academic school year.
STUDENT PROFILE:
We are looking to work with students that have exhibited academic / emotional deficiencies or lack positive male interactions. Ideally, we want to work with students that want to better themselves or need positive role models.
RATIONALE:
Many of us were fortunate to have a wonderful childhood because of the many caring adults who were concerned about the safety, security, and development of the children in the community at-large. Education is the key to collective success and today’s youth must realize that success is a journey and not a destination. Educating urban youth in the United States has recently become one of the most challenging issues facing the Nation. The Delta Mu Mu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity has recognized that contrary to popular belief this is also true as it applies to students who attend schools in the North Fulton area.
The basic premise of this proposal is that problems for most students who attend schools in the aforementioned sections of Atlanta, GA are so enormous and complex that educators working alone can never satisfactorily address the most basic needs. A reasonable analysis of this urban scene will reveal that the environment and life’s circumstances are inseparable in some of the immediate urban communities. Most of the urban youth from these targeted areas live in communities characterized by some of the mundane urban pathologies.
At times the expressive styles of our students, often resistant to change, may be the cause of tension/crises between teachers-students; students-parents; and student-students. This reality is empirically documented and related to academic failure, increased disciplinary problems, low-expectations, and early termination of academic/future work careers. The results of these conditions are directly related to the unemployment and imprisonment of African American youth.
The Black Rhinos Mentoring Program intends to serve as a resource for students to learn and master the tools of mainstream society so that they can be economically viable and can contribute to the creative development of their community and society.
We are convinced that with proper leadership and a collection of the appropriate influences, these factors of urban life can be altered. Our chapter consists of community leaders and individuals with practical experiences and relative ties to admonishing the issues that plague our youth. The young men will have the opportunity to interact with clergymen, pediatricians, economist, educators, demographers, lawyers, nutritionists, urban planners, criminal justice officials, drug therapists, housing specialists, and other professional members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
PROGRAM FOCUS:
There are three primary components of this program
1. MENTORING
Each student will be matched with a Mentor from the Delta Mu Mu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The primary focus of the mentoring component is to help with student development critical thinking skills, life skills, and decision-making. We strive to be a positive avenue for these young men to discuss the daily trials, tribulations, and obstacles that are faced by young men in their age group.
2. FIELD BASED EXPERIENCES
This component is two-fold. (1) Students in this program will be required to participate in two community service activities in conjunction with our chapter. The group will also hold a fundraiser. (2) The students will be taken to various off site venues including an etiquette training, college tour, African American history tour, MLK march / rally, and several other events. This exposure is significant to changing our student’s outlook on the future as we prepare them to take advantage of their options.
3. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The mentees will have the opportunity to take on leadership roles and responsibilities within the program. The goal is to increase the self confidence and leadership skills of the young men.