The Making Of Men Honors Program Celebrates The Collective Triumph of Black Men

Aug. 31, 2010 - PRLog -- The National Black Men’s Health Network (NBMHN) along with their new youth service program – The NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program (NSYEP)  – will honor several African American men during their 2011 Making Of Men Honors Program (TM2).  Thanks to the negative portrayals of Black men in the media, coupled with the desire of Black youth to imitate, internalize and then glamorize the detrimental attributes of these fantasy simulations, the African American village has to collectively provide accessible, alternative models of reality that help separate what should be “kept real” from what should be seen simply as entertainment.  To do so, we created The Making of Men Honors Program.

As a springboard for the NSYEP Power of Perception Speaker Series, we knew we needed to reach at risk youth where they live, work and play -- at schools, recreation centers, group homes, juvenile detention centers, churches and service organizations.  By bringing men that are currently being honored and recognized, we feel this connection would make their message relevant to today's overstimulized youth.  Their presence will deliver a heightened sense of believability as it will provide youth the chance to physically see them, ask questions and have honest and open dialogues with these local celebrities.  Learn more about the Power of Perception Speaker Series at http://www.nextstepsyep.org/WSE_PowerOfPerception.html.

Dana Jewel Harris, creator of the TM2 Program says, "This approach, we have found, is the best way to help students make up their own minds on how to measure the amount of influence their entertainment and sports icons really have on their decisions and personal choices.  This experience also helps them gain a greater understanding on how their actions affect their peers, family, school, communities and careers without coming across as too preachy or stand-offish."

To nominate an Honors Candidate, nominees must tell the story of their trailblazer: their ethics and mottos to live by, the positive impact of their life's work, who their beneficiaries and mentees are as a direct result of their leadership, their overall contributions to society, their ability to overcome hardships, and a demonstration of their exceptional courage, strength, determination and insight.  

The nomination period is between September 1 - October 31, 2010 as all nominations must be made online at http://www.nextstepsyep.org/WSE_2011TM2.html.  Honorees will be selected by the NSYEP Executive Team & Farm Guild as all candidates will be acknowledged via our TM2 E-Zine & Souvenir Booklet.  Honorees will be announced on November 20, 2010 at our "Spirit of Community" Holiday Harvest and Fundraising Dinner and a special stage play presentation of Southerology -- or Education of a Harvard Guy -- with the Freedom Singers.  The stage play is an adaptation of the documentary produced and filmed by Donnie L. Betts and T J Betts which chronicles the memoirs of John Perdew, a former SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee/"snick") member.

For more information about the NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program, please visit http://www.nextstepsyep.org.  For more information about the National Black Men’s Health Network, please visit: http://www.nbmhn.net.

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NEXT Steps equips at-risk, low-income students with quality economic and community development skills through social entrepreneurism, S.T.E.M.-based investigative research and discovery, and community service within the urban agriculture industry.