Be The Best You Can!1 By E. d PROJECI' BArr MANHOOD a nonprofit or­ ganization with a new concept, new vision, a new paradign. This is theirl uniqueness; their concern and objective is "Help­ ing Boys Become Men." Mr. Tommie Summerville is Executive Director of "MAN­ HOOD" now in its fourth year. This organization was designed to bring together African . American boys in the Detroit area and adult males who have the skill, desire, time and patience and love. The adult men are trained to serve as sur­ rogate fathers (father-son relationships) to one or more boys between the ages of four­ and-a-half and twelve-years of age. MANHOOD, furthermore, encourages the surrogate son to participate in other character building organizations. Four­ teen churche in the D show SAVE OUR BOYS "Helping Boys Become Men" . 1919 MICHIGAN CI'I1ZEN I the' -.MANHO tion; - More than 10,000 Black males between the ages of 15 and 19 die each year in homicide; metropolitan area work with family. - One of six Black males will MANHOOD also the Boy MANHOOD is concerned be arrested before they ream Scouts of America, 'Young . about the social, economical, age nineteen; Men's Christian Association, educational, moral and spiritual - 51% of violent crime in Michigan Department of Social development of black males America is committed by Black Service, Public Schools, Little from boyhood through man- youths. League and Junior Achieve- hood . . - Forty percent of Black ment Involvement with these According to the NAACP children are being raised in organizations and the surrogate Legal Defense and Educatio!l fatherless homes, thereby, father instills many of the fol- Fund, the young, Black male 15 destroying the protection, lowing qualities: feeling good "an endangered species," To wit: strength and modeling provided about themselves, developing - 86% of Black youths live by two-parent families. In addi­ pride, strength of character, ac- in poverty; tion, the mobilization of our cepting responsibilities, values - - 72% of Black males drop society has eroded the extended and goal setting and love of out of school before comple- family that existed in previous ' , Officials claim ewpri 0 y CIlpillll News Service LANSING - Building new prisons can have a positive ef­ fect OD communities, even though the Michigan Depart­ ment of Correctio . facing some tough times with . aeas­ . prison po bon, )oQl offi- . said _ # Robert Bra n help communities oy 'generations. Consequently, Black men must become com­ mitted and organized and solve I problems peculiar to growing up as a Black male in society. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, participation in character­ building organizati ns made a significant difference in the lives of Black y uth. For example, youths involvement in illegal ads had 12% participants while non-participants 'W twice as high 24%. Youth in olvement in drugs had 30% participants while 70% were non-par­ ticipants. Remaining in school had 71% participants while 45% were non-participants. Summerville concluded that trade skills needed to be en­ couraged. Youth Programs for jobs beyond summer, such as the Peace Corp with-in the city; mandatory military training, trade and domestic corp. Com- bining resources of Federal, State and City, Summerville stated that each year 6,000 stu­ dents leave school (including dropouts) without prospect of a future or when they come out of college. Building a Better eigh hood _-..._ FJJi weD as create it's own b 1- Detroi - Building a better nesses, neighborhood· the ojectibe of In the area of housing CCN Core City Neighborhoods, says is working to renovate old hous­ Executive Director Theresa � The most recea project Blaquiere. to purcha e and renovate a I . Core City Neighborhoods multi-family apartment build­ Inc. (CCN); a 4-yur-old DOD ing, On December 14, 1988 profit, community based, I CNN dedicated the re ovated economic development or- building. They are considered a ganization works together with plan to offer the building to area the COJDJDunity and is totally residents as a co-op . comprised of community and The long-range plan is to business residents. revitalize a three and half CCN's agenda is to fulfill � square mile area of Detroit's neighborhood's areas of need. inner city, supported by funds The two-fold purpose of Core from the City of Detroit as well City Neighborhoods is to as churches. develop leadership of the The plan recently won the people and promote, inspire CNN a 1988 honor award from and develop community based the Michigan Society of 'Plan­ economic development. The Ding Offica1s. primary focus has been housing. The current agenda includes although CCN addresses �e upgrading existing housing, says areas of vacant lots, developmg Sister Theresa, by repairing local leadership, attracting them as well as employing local commercial and residential in- re idents to do the - needed vestments to the area, also repairs. The revitalization plan wo�king closely wit� area I """" tnssmeses to geoerate JObs �oDtlnued on � . \ said "We try to make money "It's sort of giying the people availab e to local govem�nts back a little labor for k�ping . for developing ne initiative them in jail," Brown said type programs, that are meant Hackel said there isn't a for judges to use as an alterna- public works program at the tive to sending people to, Macomb County Jail, but there pri n, " are other jobs. "Many people :y if· does "I don't think that was the in- any good or not, it's saving tent for th� regioul prisoo,· beds, • Brown said. Hackel said. "They do it· ide • Brown said 0IlC dYaDtage· the OODfiDes." departme t, d more � manylocalresideD baveanop- -He said the jail prisoners ldIlODS are �� . the ID- portuDity to be employed by the provide many services, uch as mate count ns . ewzy year.. departmeDt buildiDg mamtelWl(e, laundry -w� the pc 1Il populatJon I 'We try and staff 60 percent and kitchen help. They also cr mg by . t 2SO �ple from the local area and 40 per- may be in a work-release per IDOn,th and. the pnso eeat I"�nc:ed staff for the N"Nrr21ft �t eve built, about every supe� be said. r'";,'M-'-;y have- outside job DIlle • • Deed It? opea a BI'OWIl said he beliau Iow- where they go to work during • pnson, �rown said. -ob- security priso may provide die day and come back at �t • V10 ly that 15 a very costly, additional beDe6 to the com- Lou Olappe� commumca- tremendous s�alD on taff, munity. . boas spCciaJist for the Depart- �ndo stram on resources, "Additional jail beds are ment of Corrections, said other l� means a trem"endous needed out' tbece (in the sys- prisons have more exten ive stram on � taxpayers. • ' tem), b I don't think they�ve programs, such as the Prison In- . B.ut Macomb C:ounty S� to be secure," Brown said. - dustries Program. The inmates 'Y�mHackelwdmuch POSI- "Priso ersservingincountyjails perform various jobs, fr�m me IDlpact � benefit comes can go 0 and wor 0 public making license plates to making &om new pnsoDStot· • f . work projects under super- furniture that i released to the "There's a 0 CO�I,! vision. " community. growth a�ouDd th� pn 0!l, Brown said high security jail "By earning money inside, !lackel �d. "t. will �OVlde space i needed for people they help to pay back their court Jobs, servlce� III sprmg �p awaiting trials or sentencing. costs and provide a benefit to ar:ound the I!"ISOD, and housmg but other pri oners could be the county," be said will develop. . . productive. Chappel said although some Brown S31� the corre� "Ge eraDy, theYre not an es- don't like prisons located in department . always loo�g ca ris and don't have to be in their area many people do. f�r ays to. a1d communlbeS a�xpeDsive cell: he said. "There are about 250-350 with prJSO . m the &rea; . "They could be in a dormitory, people employed at an aver�e "The major money 15 m the low- itv type facility and 00 of S25,(XX) per year,.