Tonya Allen, president and CEO of the local Skillman Foundation, posts a group shout-out at its site to African-American men "working to bring positive change to the city."
To celebrate those people, I put together this list. It's a list of innovators, dreamers and change-makers for boys of color in Detroit.
The 41-year-old community leader, who joined the foundation in 2004 as a program director, pegs the timing to a new federal initiative called My Brother’s Keeper, announced by President Obama last month. Her 25 honorees include clergy, activists, entrepreneurs and students.
Meet a few and see the full roster at the Read More link below:
• Keith Bennett, Goodwill Industries: Director of Flip the Script, a job-training program in the north-central neighborhood for men aged 16-30.
• Calvin Colbert, neighborhood watch leader: He oversees Brothers on Patrol, a 22-year-old network of west-siders who patrol school routes in the Cody Rouge area each morning and afternoon.
• David Gamlin, golf instructor: His Midnight Golf Program also prepare students for college.
• Chris Kyles, Holden Boys and Girls Club: He directs the Osborn neighborhood club, a place for hundreds of kids to do homework, get tutoring and enjoy activities.
• Frank McGhee, Youth Initiative Project: He runs an initiative of the Neighborhood Service Organization that provides leadership and advocacy training for preventing violence and substance abuse.
DeQuan O’Neal, Osborn senior
• DeQuan O’Neal, student: This Osborn neighborhood high school senior advocates for safe routes for kids to take to school and urges other young men to avoid gang life.
• Shaka Senghour: Former inmate became a writer who mentors youth in leadership, decision-making and writing.
• Larry Simmons, Brightmoor Pastor's Alliance: He leads an effort pushing students and parents to value solid school attendance.
• Gregory Thomas, student: He attends Osborn Academy of Mathematics and Technology and led a blight awareness march to focus attention on the need for clean-ups and boarding up abandoned houses. He’s also president of the neighborhood's Youth Violence Prevention Team.
-- Alan Stamm
