Pictured above, Michael Ford, vice provost for academic support and retention at Roosevelt and one of the program organizers, speaks about the success of the new Black Male Leadership Academy at the city of Chicago’s recent One Summer Chicago awards ceremony
CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–October 7, 2014. Roosevelt University has received a Game Changer Award from the city of Chicago’s One Summer Chicago (OSC) 2014 program for providing meaningful experiences and youth engagement to teens through the University’s new Black Male Leadership Academy program.
Sponsored by the University’s St. Clair Drake Center for African and African American Studies, the Black Male Leadership Academy brought 19 black Chicago teens over the summer to Roosevelt’s Chicago Campus where they received a week of leadership training and the opportunity to experience college life.
Roosevelt was one of more than 100 agencies serving more than 22,500 Chicago high school students through OSC. The teens participating in Roosevelt’s leadership training and cultural learning experience program were from Children’s Home + Aid, North Lawndale College Preparatory High School and George Westinghouse College Preparatory High School. African American men from Roosevelt’s faculty, administration and student body led the sessions and were role models/mentors to the teens. The project is the brainchild of Al Bennett, director of the St. Clair Drake Center.
“We are proud to be recognized for our efforts in making this new program a success and look forward to continuing the work of the Black Male Leadership Academy in the future,” said Michael Ford, vice provost for academic support and retention and a program organizer.
In addition to serving as a summer job site for three OSC students and providing learning and cultural opportunities to the 19 Chicago high school teens, the University will open its doors on select Saturdays beginning Oct. 18 to further train Black Male Leadership Academy participants. At the upcoming sessions, African American men from the University’s faculty, administration and student body will continue to serve as mentors to the high school teens.
A story about the program and its success can be viewed at the following link: http://www.roosevelt.edu/News_and_Events/News_Articles/2014/20140729-BlackLeaderAcad.aspx
“We would like to thank Robert and Rose Johnson and the Efroymson Family Fund for their generous donations, which have made this program possible,” said Bennett.
Source: roosevelt.edu
