Teaching black teens to be men
Men of Quality promotes leadership, provides support
By Wayne Tompkins
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The Courier-JournalAbout 20 African-American teenagers at the Brown School in Louisville sat transfixed as a group of successful black men challenged them to cast aside stereotypes and take a more positive view of themselves and their futures.
The men had too many negative examples themselves when they were young. Now the members of Men of Quality visit Jefferson County schools to help develop youths' leadership and social skills, as well as their self-esteem.
The school visits, which started 10 years ago, don't end after one day. The adult volunteers are available to the students around the clock.
The youths, many of whom are being raised in homes without fathers, may look to the men for help during crises or simply for someone to talk about the turmoil of adolescence.
"Growing up in the West End, we had the same challenges that you have now," Kevin Wigginton, a former college football player now with the American Red Cross, told the students. "I have friends who are not around anymore for various reasons. Some are in jail -- or in the grave."
About 300 Jefferson County middle school and high school students are involved in the program, which has 14 chapters in the district. Organizers hopes to expand the program throughout the system and start chapters in other school districts.
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