The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. 2022 Annual Report

THE RESILIENCE OF OUR YOUTH

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

I am honored and proud to serve as the Chairman of this fantastic organization. The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. had an unprecedented year overcoming another year dealing with COVID-19. Still, we successfully pivoted thanks to the generous support of our supporters and sponsors, our solid financial footing and infrastructure, and the sheer will of our members and staff. It was indeed a community effort, and thank you for all your efforts!

Last year, we experienced record demand for services, and we owe a debt of gratitude to our members, staff, donors, and sponsors for your extraordinary support. Without your support, we could not deliver the impact on the scale that is necessary to respond to our community. One highlight was being introduced to Randy Diamond, who became one of the newest supporters and has jumped in to help make a difference with our Chapter. This year, we will build on the incredible work we do in mentoring, health & wellness, and education; and will launch innovative financial literacy, home ownership, and entrepreneurship initiatives to support economic empowerment. Our annual Scholarship & Awards Gala yields another sell-out. We are proud of all the hard work, which is possible due to our annual Gala fundraiser’s success and the generosity of individual donors and corporate foundations.

The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. was founded in 1997, and we celebrated our 25th Anniversary last year. Our mission is to

improve the quality of life within the Greater Cleveland Area and beyond by advancing African Americans’ social, economic, health, and educational progress. Our Chapter inducted 22 new members who are established leaders in their chosen fields, including business, government, education, medicine, law, and technology – to name a few.

Our Chapter believes in the Four Pillars, in which “Four for the Future” programs are the foundation of our national organization, the 100 Black Men of America. The “Four for the Future” Programs are: Mentoring Education Health & Wellness Economic Empowerment

The execution of these programs is made possible by your generous support. Donations can be sent by clicking the “Donate” button on our website www.100blackmencle.org, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your contribution may be tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

I appreciate your support!

Sincerely, Lee V. Fields Jr.

The history of the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland Inc.began when several men traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, at the invite of the late Roosevelt Adams. Roosevelt was a Clevelander who moved to Atlanta and became a successful businessman. He was also a member of the Metro Atlanta Chapter of the 100BMOA, arguably the most powerful chapter of the 100 in the country.

About Us Annual Report

For years the 100 had been trying to establish a chapter in Cleveland but had yet to succeed. Roosevelt introduced Michael Nelson to Thomas W. Dortch, the National Chairman of the 100 Black Men of America and a very prominent businessperson in his own right. Thomas and Roosevelt explained to Nelson that they had met with some Black businessmen and community leaders from Cleveland about starting a chapter of the 100. Nelson promised both men that he would get the ball rolling in Cleveland and have a chapter in place. Nelson concluded that he would hold an organizational meeting of individuals who fit into each category, including a representative from the powerful political factions, Congressman Louis Stokes, former City Council President George Forbes, and the man who defeated George for Mayor, Michael R. White. I would not tell them where the meeting would be held until the day.

A date was set, and Nelson invited a number of his friends, including Larry Hines, Gregory Clifford, Curtis Griggs, Tony Smith, Luther Towers, and Julius Singleton, along with Stokes’ rep, Ron Adrine, Forbes’ rep, Daryl Fields, and White rep, Nate Gray to meet with Chairman Dortch and Roosevelt Adams. The meeting was held at the now-closed Eloise’s Restaurant on East 79th and Carnegie. We were established in 1997 and became a full fledge chapter.

These guys were familiar with the 100 through business, political, or family connections. After listening to the very impressive Thomas Dortch and about an hour or so of discussion, the decision was made to formally incorporate, s and to begin recruiting members. So in 1997, The 100 Black Men in Cleveland was established. The first significant event was a rollout at the Cleveland Clinic. Over 90 men committed to joining, with about 70 men paying dues. Mayor Michael R. White committed to buying 100 copies of nationally known motivational speaker George Frazer’s book Success Runs in Our Race for each member. George, who attended the opening event, graciously took the time to autograph each member’s copy.

MEN

2022 Leadership Team

Board of Directors

Lee V. Fields Jr. Chairman

Gregory Lockhart Vice Chairman

Brett Horton, Esq Secretary

Lucien Blackwell Director of Finance

Rodney L. Brown

Grady Burrows

Brandon Curry

Edwin Hubbard Jr.

Darien Johnson

Tyson Mitchell, Esq. Dr. Ernest Smoot

James W. Wade III

Improving the Lives of Young Men

The 100 Black Men of Greater Greater Cleveland Inc. is one of many International Chapters with our National Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The local chapter’s current membership is part of an international fellowship of 10,000+ committed volunteers who have impacted the lives of over 110,000 youth through mentoring and other programs designed to improve their quality of life. Mentees benefit from educational enhancement programs and life skills training conducted by organization members and other community volunteers and partners.

What We Do Annual Report

Real Men, Giving Real Time

The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. serve as a beacon of leadership by utilizing our diverse talents to create an environment in which Cleveland’s youth are motivated to achieve and are empowered to become self-sufficient shareholders in the economic and social fabric of their communities. Mentoring is the essence of the Greater Cleveland 100. Through our signature economic development programs, education, health & wellness, leadership development, and mentoring, we aim to be Cleveland’s premier mentoring organization.

“What They See Is What They’ll Be®”

is more than a motto. It is a source of motivation for all members of our 100 Black Men chapter network. Additionally, our motto serves as a constant reminder that we must consistently commit ourselves to personify the type of people our children will look up to and emulate. We fully embrace the immense responsibility we have to our mentees and our communities.

First Friday

The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc.

2022 Chairman Award Winner

Diamond Mens Wear Meeting

Program Overview Annual Report

Mentoring

The 100 Black Men’s signature mentoring program is a practical, evidence-based, and strategic intervention that helps Black youth reach their full potential by becoming contributing members of society. The mentoring programs of the 100 Black Men of the Greater Cleveland, Inc. Area provide fundamental support for African American students from elementary through college. Our motto, “What They See Is What They’ll Be,” refers to a “lead by example” approach. Our approach resonates with our youth, who often need more exposure or positive behavior modeling from caring and successful African American men.

The Cleveland Chapter Mentoring Program serves students ages

The goal for the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland (100 BMOGC) mentoring program is for our mentors to share their knowledge, experience, and wisdom concerning the various aspects of life to support our mentees necessary to develop and further enhance the core skills (interpersonal and intrapersonal) required to become future leaders and productive community citizens. Mentoring is work always remembered, but it lasts a lifetime. We understand the complexities of the World that African American men are being raised in. We have been there. Our mentoring

program addresses these complexities by pairing seasoned black leaders with emerging ones and cultivating an environment where transformation happens. Through our partnership with Cleveland Metropolitan Schools, we have reached hundreds of youth, shaping them into strong, healthy, culturally aware young men.

The 100 delivers mentoring training at our annual conferences and regional workshops, which are open to the public. Collegiate 100 chapters and 100 Black Men chapters have

ages 9 - 18 throughout the city of Cleveland and surrounding areas.

unique mentoring initiatives that annually impact deserving youth. Please support the work of the 100 and explore ways to help it. Our vision is to develop a best-in-class, measurable mentoring program, and strategy that will significantly increase our student participants’ academic success, graduation rate, and self-esteem, along with improved community involvement and corporate fellowship.

As an organization works to facilitate, cultivate, and in some cases re-define the

development of functional and successful mentor relationships, articulating the rules of etiquette for these encounters is beneficial for both mentors and mentees. The contextual framework of mentoring as an introduction outlines critical points essential to developing rapport and the evolution of a functional mentoring relationship across a lifetime. The etiquette cuts across the mentee, mentor, and sponsoring chapter/organization.

Mentoring Programs Annual Report

One on One Mentoring

Each of our programs delivers unique mentoring initiatives that help tap into the deserving youth annually and change their lives. Mentoring provides support and positively impacts the lives of tomorrow’s leaders today.Targeting males between the ages of 10 to 16.

Mentoring sessions a minimum of 2 to 3 hrs. a month with mentee

Mound Talented Tenth

This program takes place at Mound Stem School 100 Black Men Mentors attend every two weeks to mentor the children. Mentoring is often one component of a program that involves other elements, such as tutoring or life skills training and coaching. The supportive, healthy relationships formed between mentors and mentees are both immediate and long-term and contribute to a host of benefits for mentors and mentees.

Walk A Mile With A Child

The Cleveland Chapter of 100 Black Men has combined the Mentoring, Education, and Health and Wellness Committees to form this program and connect a nature walk in some of our local public parks with a health and wellness, science, and environmental education component to the mentoring experience.

Mentoring Activities

The objective of the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. mentoring activities is to commit positive role models to engage and build up the lives of students in our community and ensure they are on a path to stay in school and graduate. We do this through various activities such as basketball games, baseball games, and trips to various museums.

Field Trip to Zoo Mentees at Cavs Game

Mentoring in Schools

A Day at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

WALK A MILE WITH A CHILD

The walk is the brainchild of Cleveland Chief Magistrate Gregory Clifford, one of the founding members of the Cleveland Chapter, who has been mentoring young men for a long time. “African American male youth have a vitally important need to see, know, and be mentored by successful, mature African American men to help them open the doors to obtaining success in their lives. The 100 Black Men is an organization committed to providing positive mentoring experiences for our youth,” said Clifford.

During almost 18 months of dealing with COVID-19, which caused the closing of the schools, the 100 conducted their mentoring

programs. “I wanted to design a new outdoor mentoring program that would be safe and healthy while maintaining mentoring opportunities. I created a vision of an alternative mentoring concept that I labeled “Walk a Mile with a Child,” said Clifford.

The Cleveland Chapter of 100 Black Men has combined the Mentoring, Education, and Health and Wellness Committees to form this program and connect a nature walk in some of our local public parks with a health and wellness, science, and environmental education component to the mentoring experience.

CHILD MENTORING PROGRAM

With Clifford’s idea, 100 Black Men chairs Darian Johnson and Dr. Ernest Smoot led the summer program. Each walk is unique. “ All mentees are encouraged to know and live by the 100 BMOGC Mentoring Program Affirmation principles - being ethical, excellent, proud, and united,” said Smoot.

During the walks, the 100 Mentors and Mentees discuss essential life skills topics such as self-care and hygiene, educational success, finance and economics, and peer relations. Youth have time to discuss as a group and in 1-on-1 mentor/mentee pairings during the walks.

This program comprises two components, the walk and the talk/mentoring. Walking, like hiking, running/jogging, etc., is a weightbearing exercise. And like all weight-barring exercises, there are numerous physical health benefits. These results include body fat reduction, increased strength and endurance, and improved cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness, significantly reducing health issues such as heart disease and diabetes.

The 100 black men of Greater Cleveland Inc.’s goal is to raise awareness and provide information to promote healthier behavior and lifestyle in our community.

The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland Inc. offers comprehensive programs that address the physical and psychological needs of the African American community. African American children are at exceptionally high risk for poor health and the early onset of health conditions.

The African American community is experiencing an alarming increase in the rate of cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, HIV/AIDS, renal disease, respiratory conditions, arthritis, and depression. Therefore, the 100 Black Men Cleveland chapter emphasizes improving the health awareness of youth in our community. In addition, the 100 Black Men shield African American children from violence and harmful behaviors while instilling in them the principles of community building.

The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland Inc. partners with other health-related non-profit organizations and government agencies to promote preventative health strategies, conduct health screenings, and provide education on prevalent diseases in the African American community. The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland Inc. works in partnership with other community organizations, schools, government agencies, and businesses to develop comprehensive programs that address the health crises that confront many African Americans. Health and Wellness is a programmatic focus of the 100 aimed at eliminating health disparities in the African American community through increased education and awareness, policy development and advocacy, and behavioral paradigm shifts.

Health & Wellness Hope for the Holiday Event

Education Annual Report

Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the World. We aim to work with parents, families, community partners, and schools to teach African American youth the tools to improve the World. Beginning with early education, how the teacher nurtures your child’s talents will determine the path they will walk in life. Teachers are incubators that bring out the best in the child by stimulating their minds and inspiring them to do great things. Community and higher education partnerships open doors for our youth to have a better chance to enhance their talents and opportunities.

For years, the 100 has educated African American youth, believing that all children must have quality education regardless of race and socioeconomic status. We provide these youth with a fun, individualized teaching approach that prepares them for school and life while building their creativity. We’re not just tutors; we are inspirers and mentors. Helping children become the best version of themselves creates a better future.

EDUCATIONAL

PARTNERS

Kenneth Clement Boys Leadership Academy

Mound Stem School Shaw High School

Wade Park School

100 BLACK MEN TUTORING IN SCHOOLS

GALA TABLE SPONSORS

AKA Team

Students of Promise

Cle Consulting

Cleveland Alpha House

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Foundation

Coleman Spohn

E.F. Boyd Funeral Home Erie Bank

Federal Reserve Bank

First Federal Lakewood

Friendly Inn

Guru One Management

Harvest of Ohio

Michael Nelson Huntington Bank

Premier Barber Studio

NEORSD

Ohio Savings Bank

Ozanne Construction PNC Bank

Premier Bank

Robert Solomon RPM International Saint Luke’s Foundation

Step Forward Step Forward - Headstart Father’s Program

The Jabali Developent Group

The President’s Council