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The 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston

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AVID Magazine

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The 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston Inc, is an organization that “seeks to serve as a beacon of leadership by utilizing our diverse talents, to create an environment where our children and communities are motivated to achieve and to empower our people to become self-sufficient shareholders in the economic fabric of the communities in which we serve.”

In 1994, eleven visionary men led by Benjamin J. Piggott Esq. the Founding President had a concern and a feeling of responsibility to the Houston community came together to form the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston Inc. an organization whose expressed purpose is improving the quality of life for African-Americans and other minorities. The founding fathers of the Houston organization represented a wide range of talented professional men in the Houston community who recognized that by directing resources toward the community’s youth through programs which cultivate creativity, stress academic achievement and emphasize social responsibility they would be able to ensure the future for a vast number of Houston Youth. Understanding that this would not be an easy task, the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston Inc. set as their goal empowering young people through mentoring, education, health and wellness and economic development programs.

The 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston Inc shares in the fundamental ideas and philosophy which were espoused by the founders in 1963 in New York City. Nationally, there are over 105 chapters, more than 10,000 members in cities around the country, and we impact over 100,000 youth annually through our mentoring and youth development programs.

In Houston, the men have worked tirelessly to bring a local focus to issues that resonate nationally. In 1996 the group in partnership with Merck Pharmaceuticals and M. D. Anderson Cancer Hospital commissioned a play which raised the awareness of the devastation of Prostrate Cancer in black men, from this play a prostrate screening program was initiated. The screening program was so successful it became the model for the national 100 Black Men of America, Inc. screening program. Today there is a national on-going prostrate awareness campaign and yearly screenings which have saved countless lives by early detection.

Always men of action and dedication to the improvement of the community the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston Inc. have many accomplishments most notably: • AWARDED OVER $150,000 IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO PROMISING 1ST AND 2ND YEAR COLLEGE STUDENTS.

Yearly since 1996, the men have conducted a food and toy drive which has benefited thousands of kids ages 11-18. Additionally, in 2005 in partnership with the University of Houston and Santa Elves, the 100 donated 75 new bicycles and more than $3000 in gift certificates to needy Houston families.

• A mentoring program is currently located at Texas Southern University, which allows the group to reach inner-city schools and churches in the Greater Houston area to encourage more young people to become involved in the mentoring program.

• Partnered with the LeBron James Foundation to help families affected by Hurricane Katrina. 100 PROGRAMS: > MENTORING is the cornerstone of 100 Black Men o

f Metropolitan Houston, Inc. (The 100). > HEALTH & WELLNESS - The 100 focuses on the well-being of the whole person: physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual through initiatives that: 1) raise awareness of health disparities and solutions; and 2) provide access to health care and wellness information that promote behavioral changes that result in healthier lifestyles, good nutrition, regular physical activity, and full ownership of one’s health. > EDUCATION - The Houston Chapter of The 100 has been mentoring African American youth for more than 20 years and knows the importance of education to one’s life trajectory and the ability to achieve dreams. > ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT - 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. promotes and fosters the ability of its mentees and members to be self-determined in creating dreams, pursuing them and ultimately perpetuating those dreams and aspirations by establishing the mechanisms to sustain generational wealth. > LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. continues to prepare youth and young adults who can lead the way and become the next generation of global leaders.

Many of the members in the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. are leaders of other organizations on local, regional and national levels. These men serve as trailblazers and role models for the youth of today who will assume their positions tomorrow. By example and through leadership training, our members work tirelessly to help empower mentees to build character and create hope, aspirations, plans, and futures.

We are always looking for real men who are willing to give real-time toward helping us fulfill the organization’s mission. If you are interested in joining our organization and meet the following criteria, please click the “Join Us Now” button below and complete the form to join our prospective member distribution list. JOIN US NOW

For more information on the 100 Black Men visit http://100blackmenhou.org.

Be sure to follow them on Social Media Instagram @100blackmenhtx Facebook @100BMOH Twitter @100BlackMenHou

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