As Vincent Love walked the halls of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School, he passed a classroom with students huddled together, reading.

In another classroom of the charter school, 20 to 25 students sat in a circle around a presenter, who spoke to them about the concept of self-worth. In the gym was a single student with her karate instructor, because even if only one student shows up, class will still be held, Love said.

It was a Saturday, and school wasn’t in session, but the 100 Black Men of Syracuse’s weekly academy program was. The Syracuse chapter of the national 100 Black Men of America, which was founded in 1963, holds the academy every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. And this Saturday, the 100 Black Men of Syracuse will commemorate its 10th anniversary at a fundraising gala at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

The Syracuse chapter of 100 Black Men was the result of a desire among the organization’s founding members to serve Syracuse’s black community and its youth. Its goal is to provide an environment that fosters learning and gives students the chance to realize their full potential, said Shanelle Benson Reid, program director for the 100 Black Men of Syracuse.

“We want to be involved with every aspect of a young person’s life,” said Love, president and a founding member of the 100.

The programs organized by the 100 are focused on five core areas: mentoring, education, economic empowerment, health and wellness and leadership. The Saturday academy offers classes in karate, visual art, performing arts, knitting and chess. The 100 also organizes “Kitabu” reading sessions, in which students read two books per month and are assigned two essays based on the books. Students are paid $25 for the essays as an incentive.

Classes are taught by volunteer members, who share their skills with the students. This model, spearheaded by Reid, invites volunteers to come on board and share their ideas.

“If someone brings me an idea and is like, ‘Hey Shanelle, is it possible we can work on this?’ (then we) figure out a way to make it happen,” Reid said.

The 100 Black Men of Syracuse holds weekly academy programs that community volunteers host for students. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

Each Saturday begins with a light breakfast, followed by a group mentoring session. Mentors address issues regarding students’ well-being and confidence. At the end of the day, they break for lunch set up in the school cafeteria.

“It feels like you’re in an environment where you’re like safe and you can tell people stuff that you’re not comfortable telling other people,” said 12-year-old Tyanna Kennedy, a participant in the program. “It’s like another family, and I would definitely recommend a lot of people to come here.”

The organization focuses on a holistic model of education. Love said the 100 tries to provide an environment that’s different from what the students experience in school so it’s, “really about them” when they come to the Saturday academy.

“It’s all about helping them build their self-esteem and confidence and at the same time provide the academic support,” he said.

After the mentoring session, students spend the rest of their time exploring their interests outside the academic realm. Reid said the organization wanted to ensure it included activities the students were interested in.

Makaela Simmons, a volunteer and senior in the School of Education at Syracuse University, has volunteered at the academy almost every Saturday over the past three years. She teaches the reading class, facilitates discussion during mentoring sessions and plans workshops, among other tasks.

The most rewarding aspect of the academy for her, though, is making connections with the students. Having been a part of the organization for the past three years, Simmons has watched many students grow.

“Just watching them not kinda care about school but now they’re just so excited to come here, to see me, to show me what they did over the week makes me excited that they’re excited,” she said.

Although the 100 focuses on helping the youth, a large portion of its programs are centered on involving parents and helping them with problems they face. The organization brings in financial advisers who hold workshops on financial literacy that parents are invited to attend. The 100 also holds talks on domestic violence titled “Real Men, Real Talk” in partnership with Vera House every fourth Thursday of the month at 6 p.m.

Vincent Love is the president of 100 Black Men of Syracuse, and he was also a founding member when the group began in 1963. Kai Nguyen | Staff Photographer

“We ask people, what information do you need, what’s valuable to you,” Love said. “If someone says, ‘I’m thinking about buying a house, I don’t know anything about that process,’ we can put together a workshop that talks about buying a home and what’s involved with that.”

Through the mentoring sessions and other programs, the organization aims to help individuals understand there’s something beyond the trials they experience.

“Many of us come from those same backgrounds and there were people in our lives who helped us,” Reid said.

For the future, the 100 hopes to build participation of students and the community. The dream is for the organization to have its own school.

“We could provide the type of atmosphere we’re looking to provide for our young people … so that their lives are comfortable for them to reach their fullest potential,” Love said.

Published on November 14, 2017 at 8:58 pm

Contact Rhea: rhbhambh@syr.edu