Children Need Responsible Adults in their Lives.
Help Concerned Black Men Find Caring Men and People of Goodwill to
Support Disadvantaged Kids!

Concerned Black Men’s evidence based “best practice” programs focus on student achievement, mentoring, health education, teen pregnancy and other areas to help children develop their talents. CBM also works with parents to improve literacy and job skills. We have an expert staff and volunteers who have gone through rigorous background checks. Our work is recognized nationally and funded by federal, state and local dollars. CBM's outreach is limited only by resources. If Concerned Black Men is to transform lives, we need dollars to expand services to communities that desperately need men and women upon which our kids can depend.

Will you consider a small Year End gift to help Concerned Black Men reach these children? Your gift will make it possible for us to continue our work --- to make America a place where every child, regardless of circumstances, has a fighting chance to succeed.

On behalf of the youth and families we serve, thanks in advance for your generosity! Please help by clicking on the Donation Button today!

Concerned Black Men...Caring For Our Youth® Since 1975

 

The word “Mentor” has its roots in Greek mythology.

The word Mentor originated in the Odyssey by Homer who describes the character Mentor as a “wise and trusted friend”. When Odysseus leaves to fight the Trojan War he asks his good friend Mentor to guard the household.  Mentor watches over the kingdom and becomes guardian and teacher to Odysseus’ son Telemachus. Presently, the family support system that so many of us took for granted as we stumbled into adulthood is not as readily available to our young people. Today, we don’t look at that support system as mentors. Concerned Black Men – National Organization (CBM) is stepping up to the plate to fill that gap with a mentoring program geared toward our young African American boys with potential (usually referred to as at” risk youth”) through our local Capital City Cares® Mentoring Initiative and our CBM Cares® National Mentoring Initiative.  By focusing on, referring to and engaging in the positive, their potential, CBM is positioning the Organization to be a major advocate for our young boys to guide them into making wise choices for themselves. All the studies report the same findings; young people with a positive caring adult (mentor) in their life are less likely to participate in risky behavior.  There are 5,040 hours in a year.  Committing merely 96 of those hours over the course of a year, that’s .019 percent of your time you can dedicate to helping a young boy who needs someone to believe in him and help him believe in himself. We must ask ourselves… Is this asking too much? What’s the alternative?You don’t need initials in front or behind your name, a six figure income, a luxury car or a mansion, but we’ll consider you if you do.  All you need is caring heart, the willingness to have fun and make a positive difference in a young boy’s life. But be prepared because it will make a difference in your life as well!

Want to become a Mentor? Contact the Concerned Black Men National Office toll free at 1-888-395-7816 or e-mail us at info@cbmnational.org.

Concerned Black Men...Caring for Our Youth Since 1975

The Concerned Black Men 12th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Reception will be hosted on Friday, September 25, 2009 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the following location:

Grand Hyatt Hotel
Constitution Ballroom
1000 H St. NW
Washington DC 20001 

The Concerned Black Men Congressional Black Caucus Reception is an annual "Invitation Only" event for approximately 500-600 supporters of CBM's national and local programs. During this year's Reception, Concerned Black Men will be launching a nationwide program to find mentors for 5000 Black boys across the country.

To help us with the CBM Cares® National Mentoring Initiative, and to support programs that transform the lives of African American children, CBM is requesting a minimum donation of $25.00 or more to support this important work. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

RECEPTION RSVP/DONATION INSTRUCTIONS

To RSVP for the Concerned Black Men 12th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Reception, please click on the Ticketweb logo below:

For more information, contact the CBM National Office toll free at 1-888-395-7816 or by e-mail at: info@cbmnational.org.

On behalf of the children and youth we serve, Concerned Black Men congratulates Barack Obama on becoming the 44th President of the United States.

We celebrate this accomplishment in the face of troubling times. America is in the midst of perhaps its greatest challenges. Our financial system is in crisis, the country is fighting wars on dual fronts, and steady work is elusive for many throughout the nation. Many of our fellow citizens would be thankful just not to lose their homes before Inauguration Day. In the face of so many obstacles, what becomes of our children? Can we create a new and better future, or will we leave our youth with an even greater mountain to climb?

Concerned Black Men remains determined to create an America where every child has a responsible and caring adult in his or her life. For 33 years, CBM has offered young people from difficult backgrounds mentorship, tutelage and life skills to overcome challenges. From teen pregnancy prevention to academic support, Concerned Black Men, its nationally recognized staff down the street from the White House, and its 32 chapters from Los Angeles to Boston, convinces people of good will that anything is still possible.     

And that’s the good news the President brings. President Obama’s substance, born of hard work and support from key mentors, made the difference in his life. We can tell our children about life’s possibilities, rather than dwell on its limitations.

CBM wants to help the new President accomplish great things for our youth. Our strategy includes nationwide mentoring programs, and an emphasis on increasing high school graduation for boys of color.

Concerned Black Men is ready to help this new President, and asks all Americans for their support.

In Caring For Our Youth

Bobby James - National Chair
George Garrow, Jr., Esq. - Executive Director

Join Concerned Black Men and this Nation’s leading educators, politicians, community stakeholders, philanthropic celebrities and others in Baltimore, MD for the National Mentoring Conference. This most important event will focus on examining and developing “best practices” in mentoring programs. Come and learn from the experts about what you must do to create a model mentoring program, or take your existing mentoring program to the next level!

The CBM National Mentoring Conference will be convened during the dates of October 30th to November 1, 2008 in Baltimore, MD at the following location:

CBM National Mentoring Conference
Tremont Plaza Hotel and Conference Center
222 Saint Paul Place
Baltimore, MD  21202
TEL: (410) 576-1200
www.tremonts.com

Reserve hotel rooms no later than 10/2/2008 to receive the conference rate of $169 per night!

Click here to complete ONLINE REGISTRATION 

For more information about the National Mentoring Conference, contact the CBM National Office toll free at 1 (888) 395-7816 or e-mail us at: info@cbmnational.org

There has been an ongoing debate between advocates for abstinence-only programs and supporters of comprehensive sex education. Over the last several years, Congress has emphasized and funded the abstinence-only approach, which focuses on teaching young people that abstaining from sex until marriage is the best means of ensuring avoidance of HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy. Any discussion about contraceptive options generally is considered counterproductive and contradictory. Conversely, comprehensive sex education explains to young people the potential benefits of delaying sexual experiences until they are emotionally and physically ready. It also includes a discussion about abstinence and contraceptive options. To advocates of the abstinence-only approach, the rise in teen pregnancy rates and STDs supports the idea that a simple message of "no sex outside of marriage" for teens is the only appropriate approach for educators. Those who support comprehensive sex education argue that the recent rise in teen pregnancy rates after a steady decline for the previous 15 years suggests a failure in the abstinence-only approach.So what do you think? Should the federal government fund only abstinence programs, comprehensive sex educations programs, or both?

A recent documentary was released citing African American children’s preferences when presented with dolls that had African American and Caucasian physical characteristics. The documentary, produced by a 17 year old African American high school student and filmmaker, ignited new debates about race, and more specifically, how our children perceive and value themselves as African Americans. This report is based upon the previous study called the “Doll Test” conducted by black psychologists Dr. Kenneth and Mamie Clark over 50 years ago that originally analyzed the basis of African American children preferences when presented with the same racial comparisons. Dr. Clark published a paper on his findings in the 1950s. His work, specifically cited by the Supreme Court in the landmark case “Brown vs. Board of Education” played a significant role in ending school segregation.

During the student’s documentary, when asked to make a choice, the children overwhelmingly chose the Caucasian dolls. While the dolls were identical in every regard except race, when asked why they made the choice to select Caucasian dolls, the children cited that they “liked” the Caucasian doll “best,” or that it was the “nice doll.”  When asked which doll is “bad,” the Black children selected the Black doll, even though they were able to identify the Black doll as the doll that “looked most like [me].” Surprisingly, the children’s preferences in 2007 are no different than selections made by children participating in a similar Doll Study conducted by Dr. Clark more than half of a century ago.

While many African American children may claim to be “Black and Proud” when asked the question, it can be argued that the basis of their pride is misplaced, and attributed more to superficial things such as clothing and “hood” association. Arguably, this issue speaks to the present condition of our communities and the continued work that African-American parents, teachers, professionals and community stakeholders must engage in if we are to reverse the lack of positive self esteem and commitment to excellence among our youth. What are we doing within our schools, churches, homes and community centers to better teach our youth about their heritage, value and limitless potential? Why aren’t we more serious about controlling the images and environment in which our children are raised?

What do you think?

To learn more about the “Doll Test” study, please click on the following hyperlink:

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/brown-brown.html