Chionesu Bakari Summer 2016 Newsletter by Chionesu Bakari

Chionesu Bakari Program For Young Men “Guiding Light of Noble Promise”

July/August 2016 vol.3 issue 07

INSIDE THIS ISSUE DIRECTOR’S WELCOME

EXPANDING HORIZONS CB SUMMER FROM A YOUNG MAN 3 LET'S TALK ABOUT RACISM TO EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY

CB SUMMER 2016 IN PICTURES

CAMP ICHTHUS!! IN PICTURES

ART AUCTION BENEFIT "PAINTING IT FORWARD"

TEXT TO PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

UPCOMING EVENTS

Namaste, As we close out our 10th Anniversary year, I am ecstatically proud about all of the wonderful things that we have accomplished. Staff, parents and partners raised the bar across the board: from CB Founder, H. Moore instructing the young men - Summer 2016 trip the events we launched, the experiences the young men gained, the support the organization received and the engagement from new Friends and Supporters of CB alike, this 10th year has been phenomenal. The staff, parents, young men and I are renewed and readily charged to move forward. This year was a time of purposeful celebration; and I am overjoyed with our results. From CB’s first Mother & Son Dance, our Family Skate Night Party, the MALIK Black History Month Gala, being honored by the Guardians Association to our spectacular and special 10th Anniversary Gala and Rites of Passage Celebration, the common thread throughout was celebration and building our community to change the lives of the young men we serve. Our Rites of Passage Program continues to thrive and I am proud of the 8 Rites of Passage graduates this year. The CB Family and I pray the lessons they have learned will guide them successfully through College as they start this August and September. I need to take moment to specifically thank all those that have contributed or sponsored our events and young men, especially our Rites of Passage graduates. Your commitment to what we are doing, is making a powerful impact on the program and the young men. As the summer’s end closes in upon us, I can truly say it was an amazing summer of travel and activities. My special thanks to CB Staff & Alumni John Robinson, Quintin Thomas, Dante Leary and Jermaine Simmons who planned and orchestrated the trips and events. The experiences gained and sites visited in Detroit, Cleveland, Louisville, and Cincinnati have and will continue to make impressionable marks on the outlook of the young men. One of the highlights includes meeting NBA star Derek Anderson, who spoke to the young men about “Acts of Kindness” and the impact they have on him and on others. His personal story was a testimony of the acts of kindness that guided him from homelessness to NBA star. While in Louisville, KY, the young men and CB staff were fortunate to join a forum on police and community relations with the Deputy Mayor and Police Commissioner there. The thought provoking dialogue from our CB young men John, Quintin and Jermaine as they represented CB, shared their feelings and led discussions on solutions to the challenges between police and the Black community was articulate and concise. During our visit, we also enjoyed some of Louisville’s rich and inviting culture, by visiting the Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville Slugger Museum, and the famed “Franco’s” for fried bologna and kool-aid. Our college tours included Simmons College and University of Louisville in which we were honored to meet Dr. Ricky L. Jones, Chair of Pan-African Studies. Our 2nd trip this summer to Camp Ichthus brought CB back to one of it’s traditions of team building, competition, hiking and camping. What a great time we had! Congratulations to John Robinson’s team for taking 1st place in the overall competition. I especially want to thank the parent led summer lunch ccommittee, the young men and staff are truly grateful. Finally thank you, to all the parents for this wonderful year. You all are truly appreciated for your continuous support of the program and the young men. Our mission continues and I look forward to raising the bar even higher as we move into next Fall and the planning of a trip to Italy for the young men. There simply is not enough ways that I can say thank you for making this 10th Anniversary So Very Special!!! Horace L. Moore

Founder & Executive Director Chionesu Bakari Program for Young Men

Expanding horizons beyond Brooklyn

A CB YOUNG MAN SHARES HIS ACCOUNT OF THE CB SUMMER PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

Chionesu Bakari traveled to 4 cities this summer with our participants, interns, counselors and elders. It has been a hot summer as we traveled to Cleveland, Michigan, Kentucky and Cincinnati to find new experiences and yet again verify that life is bigger than Brooklyn, New York for young black men. My name is Jayson Amir Banks and I am a CB Pauper. I am also a key witness to the fun we had and the knowledge we gained, during this eight-day trip across the country.

CB Young Men at Louisville Townhall meeting on Police & Community Relations - Louisville, KY

Our first stop was Cleveland, Ohio, the home of LeBron James, Halle Berry and Arsenio Hall. We arrived late at night and were accepted with open arms into the Springhill Suites Marriot with the understanding that we would be traveling to Detroit the following day. Before we travelled into Detroit we visited the Quicken Loans Arena where the Cleveland Cavaliers play most of their games during the season each year. Then we spent all day on the bus and arrived in to the home of Slim Shady in the afternoon. We visited the Ford Field Stadium, the Detroit Historic Museum, Motown Studios and the Henry Ford Automobile Museum in the 2 days we spent in Michigan. Next we made our way to Louisville, Kentucky, the home of “The Greatest”, Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali. We visited the Frazier Museum, Louisville Slugger Museum/ Factory and Muhammad Ali Center. At the Muhammad Ali Center, we met NBA basketball player Derek Lamont Anderson. He was abandoned by his parents at the age of 11 in a rundown apartment with no food or electricity for 2 whole days. He also was a single father at the age of 15. Derek Anderson played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Portland Trailblazers, the Houston Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs and the Charlotte Bobcats. He taught us that you have to have the courage and stamina to stand up for what you believe and to always follow your dreams. While still in

Louisville, we sat in on a Town Hall meeting with citizens and the Police Department where the topic of discussion was #BLACKLIVESMATTER and the recent shootings in Baton Rouge, Minnesota and Texas. Then we traveled to Cincinnati on our way back to the Big Apple. On this trip , we ate from the likes of Cracker Barrel, Charley’s, Taco Bell, Subway, Auntie Anne’s, Golden Corral and a soul food restaurant called Franco’s. I want to give a special thanks to our bus driver Mr. Raleigh, for safe travels to every destination, to CB Staff Member & Counselor Quintin Thomas for planning this fun eight day trip and to Tyaree Ragin, a CB Prince for being the brilliant photographer who captured every image that made up this wonderful trip. This trip was the highlight of the summer for new CB young men because it marks their first shared new experiences with CB brothers. They now know what it means to be away from their parents and still be around family members. This was my second trip, with my first being in February of 2016 when we traveled to North Carolina and Atlanta. I will never forget that feeling when I realized that I was surrounded by my extended family, including my big brother Ryan Richardson. These experiences are teaching me that I am never alone and I feel at home with my CB Family. Written By Jayson Amir Banks CB Pauper -rising 6th grader

Empowering Community to Combat Racism IN THE MIDST OF A NYC HEAT WAVE THIS JULY, CB PARENTS CAME TOGETHER TO DEFINE AND DISCUSS RACISM AND HOW IT AFFECTS OUR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES We live in a time where technology allows us to capture and share every life incident to the masses at a moment’s notice through the use of cellular devices and social media outlets. Many of the shared moments are full of fun and allow its’ audience to be a part of the joy, laughter and experiences chronicled. However, some forever memorialize racism as it exists today; sometimes blow by blow, bullet by bullet, and heartbreak after heartbreak. We all know stories of Black people unjustly murdered while doing things like walking from the store, playing at the playground and worshipping at church without any justice being served, but shouldn’t the narrative change when video is involved? There is a movement called #BlackLivesMatter, that has been challenged with #AllLivesMatter and of recent #BlueLivesMatter, and through it all our young people have individual thoughts, feelings and needs that need to be addressed. What conversations are we having with our sons around race? How do start the dialogue? What are some of the solutions?

economic power to bring about c h ange . For example, in every instance where we see a police officer use deadly force against a Black person for a nonviolent act we also hear the words “things were done by the book”. That means, policies need to be changed, and the book needs to be rewritten in a system that seems to be designed to fail so many Black men and women. All agreed, our young people need to be encouraged to get seats at the table by working toward careers that include police officers, politicians and lawyers.

In a room of over 50 parents the air was heightened as Ms. Miller opened the workshop with, "What do you tell your sons about racism?" As parents, slowly shared their conversations, we heard; the realities of unfairness, the challenge of needing to work harder, the knowledge of maneuvering in 2 worlds, and affirmations of strength that are giving to young men. One important key element that came out of this workshop was understanding that racism is the sum of power plus race plus prejudice. The reality is people of color and black people specifically have not harnessed the political or collective 4

on one accord in terms of building our communities, our children and our financial stability through community work, entrepreneurship, investing and supporting Black owned banking. It is time to get back to Community. We are our Brothers’ Keepers! As our community becomes stronger, we build stronger bridges to other communities of various races, religions, and cultures.

Another important element of this workshop was building on the importance of talking to our sons and daughters about what they are seeing on the news and social CB Parent and Parent Institute workshop leader media. In speaking with our children, we discussed needing Antoinette “Toni” Miller led a workshop on this very topic to address their feelings and having “the talk” in the event recently for The Parent Institute of Chionesu Bakari. Toni that they are stopped by a police officer; regardless to the said, “the purpose was to begin a dialogue amongst CB’s situation their primary focus needs to be on getting home parents’ to highlight what we are saying to our sons in this alive, and if necessary dealing with injustices after the fact. time of crisis.” She wanted to build on the dialogue of how It is easy to become discouraged as we worked through our parents define racism, work through the frustration and the realities of racism and prejudice in our neighborhoods pain, and collectively come up with some viable solutions and culture, but we must not. Facing reality makes the for ourselves, our sons, our families and our communities so goals clear and coming together as community builds that Black people can thrive in a society of White supremacy strength. As we ended what was just the beginning of many and systemic racism. important discussions, we all agreed for the need to be

written by Charisse Smith

Views from the CB Summer Program 2016 July 2016, the Young Men of Chionesu Bakari traveled to the following states; Louisville Kentucky, Detroit Michigan and Ohio (Cincinnati and Cleveland). This trip held more significance than one would ever imagine. The GOAT, Muhammed Ali was called to rest after years of battling Parkinson Disease exactly forty (40) days before CB boarded the bus. In addition not soon before their trip, Lebron James (King James) and his team the Cleveland Cavliers reigned supreme over the Golden State Warriors (sorry Steph Curry) winning the Championship during the 2016 NBA Finals. A series that is sure to go down in NBA history. With these history setting events, the CB Young Men were excited to visit such prime locations along with colleges tours and other historic landmark sites in each of the cities.

"I had an amazing time on the trip with my older

& younger brothers. I was thrilled to learn more about the Legend who will never be forgotten, Muhammed Ali. I was also fascinated by the story of Derek Anderson and how his acts of kindness made him successful.â&#x20AC;? Ameer Mallory CB YM & Summer Counselor

"I enjoyed the Frazier Museum

the most. I enjoyed the Western Display and learning more about Western Historyâ&#x20AC;? Devon Ramcharitar CB YM - Warrior

Highlights & Quotes coordinated by LaTasha Green

Camp Ichthus - CB Summer Program 2016 The young men recently returned from their second away trip this summer to Camp Ichthus, in the mountains of Pennsylvania. This trip has been highly anticipated for the young men, due to the stories shared from the older CB members & alumni that have attended in the first several years of the CB program. From all accounts this camping trip was itself a rites of passage of brotherhood. This year the 60 CB Young men were organized into 3 teams to experience team building, competitive games, sports, the outdoors and bunking and eating together. Each team competed for points in racing, rock climbing, tug of war, basketball, boxing, trivia, good old fashion games like man-in-the middle and more. While the days were long, starting at 5AM for exercise and ending at 10pm, the young men returned having enjoyed their time and a stronger sense of brotherhood. Congratulations to John Robinson and his team who won 1st place in the overall competition.

Painting it Forward!

Art Auction Benefit supporting Chionesu Bakari November 6, 2016 "PAINTING IT FORWARD!" Art Auction benefiting Chionesu Bakari follows the African proverb, 'it takes a village to raise a child.' Established and renowned Artists, Community representatives and leaders, along with community members giving of themselves for the benefit of someone else, namely the young men of Chionesu Bakari. This guiding principle had made it possible to create an additional revenue stream for the organization, as well as a fun-filled community event. - F. Hartley, Zion Gallery, Brooklyn In an effort to generate more resources for the Chionesu Bakari, Fedrecia Hartley, a respected Bed-Stuy painter and owner of Zion Gallery, is hosting an art auction on their behalf called ‘Painting It Forward’. The ‘Painting It Forward’ auction is set for Sunday November 6, 2016 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Weeksville Heritage Center. While every auction is different, last year’s successful event has paved the way for local artists and community leaders to come together to ensure that this year will be a glowing display of what Brooklyn artists can cultivate. “We will pair artists with community leaders and activists who will assist the ‘apprentices’ in completing a work of art for the auction. We love our unique fund-raiser and after last year’s success, we couldn’t wait to do it again,” explained Fedrecia Hartley. The specially curated art pieces will allow art lovers to support local artists while also engaging with influential community members. The list of community leaders who will be in attendance continues to grow but as of today, attendees can count on seeing Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, Assembly Member Annette Robinson, and actress Susan Watkins among many more. Tickets for this event will be $30 and will be on sale soon. For more info email: fmhartley@aol.com

7 Pictures: Painting it Forward 2015 - Zion Gallery // Article as reported in the BK Reader - bkreader.org

10th Anniversary

2016 Upcoming Events August 2016 August 12 CB Summer Program ends August 13 CB End of Season Event

(check on-line for location)

September 2016 September 29 1st CB Parent Meeting 2016-2017 season

Thank you for a wonderful 10th Anniversary Year! YOU can continue the success of the uplifting work CB is doing with young men by giving in our text to pledge campagin! View online here: www.tr.im/cb10pledge and follow the instructions below!

October 7 1st CB Young Men's Meeting 2016-2017 season

Visit Chionesu Bakari Online Learn More about our Program Support Young Men!

www.youngblackmanonline.org

@cbyoungmen @Chionesu Bakari

Text to Pledge Now! 1. Create a new text message to the number 56512 2. Type CB10 Amount Full Name and hit send e.g. CB10 250 John Robinson 3. You will receive a text message confirming your pledge and a link to donate online or where to send a check . Msg & data rates may apply

For questions, please contact: supportcb@youngblackmanonline.org

Credits

Executive Director Horace L. Moore Newsletter Team Susan T. D. Rodriguez Paulette Bailey Terri Butler LaTasha Green LaToya Kittrell Antoinette Miller Tosca Myers Charisse Smith Sharon Swain

Summer 2016 pictures by CB YM Tyaree Ragin

Cover Picture: Camp Ichthus July 2016

CHIONESU BAKARI, a Swahili phrase meaning “Guiding Light of Noble Promise,” is engaged in the ministry of saving and developing young black males by reclaiming, renaming, renewing and reconditioning their minds. We strive to motivate young black male children to think critically and prepare their minds and the minds of their respective parents/ guardians for the men they will grow to become.

This newsletter is published by: Chionesu Bakari Program for Young Men 859 Hendrix Street Brooklyn, New York 11207 Phone: 347-708-2008 info@youngblackmanonline.org www.youngblackmanonline.org Available online at www.youngblackmanonline.org/news.