The National Organization of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. continues to oversee the coordination, review and dissemination of information that informs the 100 membership about issues that impact the intellectual, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual development of our youth. The organization will seek to identify the correlates of achievement that are most consistently identified with educational excellence and shape those ideas to fit each chapter’s respective community.

The 100 is responsible for encouraging and facilitating the development of programmatic initiatives that address the educational needs of the youth and those of the larger community. Additionally, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is committed to the growth and development of America’s youth. To further promote excellence in talented young Americans as they pursue higher education goals, the 100 endeavors to provide scholarships to hundreds of deserving college students on an equal opportunity basis regardless of race, sex, creed, or religious preference. The mentoring component provides an opportunity to identify potential scholarship applicants.

Partnerships with corporations, foundations and individuals ensure continued sponsorship of our scholarship efforts. Local chapters are extremely important in promoting the ongoing needs of the national scholarship goals in local communities by showcasing the academic excellence and intellect among our youth and cultivating relationships with businesses.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The 100 provides annual scholarship awards to deserving matriculating students who will be full-time students at accredited, post-secondary institutions based on 100 Black Men of America, Inc. eligibility criteria. Scholarship dollars assist youth in completing educational goals by providing resources to offset expenses associated with tuition, books and housing. The scholarship program allows the 100 to identify potential youth leaders in our local communities and motivates them to achieve academic and community service excellence. Applications are now available for the 2005-2006 100 Black Men of America Scholarship Download a PDF file of the 100 Scholarship Application and apply today! View the names of our 2006 scholarship winners now! View additional scholarship opportunities now!

STUDENT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

The 100’s Student Leadership Institute provides professional opportunities (on a compensation basis) that are educationally enriching, character building, and provide leadership skill development to students ages 16-21. Corporate and community settings make up these experiential learning opportunities. The 100 membership is utilized as a support system to orientate, guide and deliver ongoing training to program participants.

WIMBERLY INITIATIVE

The Wimberly Initiative identifies solutions to address the longstanding problem of disproportionality in special education, which continues to have a devastating impact on African American students. In 1999, 100 Black Men of America, Inc., partnered with the Policy Makers Partnership Project of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education to identify key strategies to address this epidemic. The Wimberly Initiative is not a program but a fluid “process” for insuring that no child is left behind or inappropriately placed in a special education program. It is a process that generates through local planning, clear "student outcomes" that provide teachers, parents, mentors (the 100), and principals a map which reflects

: • What teachers are expected to teach

• What students are expected to achieve

• The roles parents are expected to assume

Students who are identified as behaviorally challenged by the partnering school are adopted by the collaborating local 100 Black Men chapter and integrated into the existing mentoring program. The African American History Academic Challenge is an educational program designed to enhance the study of African American history. The goal of the program is to encourage pride, self-worth and an appreciation of the African American legacy and culture. The African American History Academic Challenge is a competition for scholarship dollars among youth within the 100 Black Men Mentoring program.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY CHALLENGE

The chief authority for the Challenge is the sixth revised edition of Lerone Bennett, Jr.’s BEFORE THE MAYFLOWER. Lerone Bennett has written at least eight other books that center upon the African American experience and African American history. The Morehouse graduate currently serves as Executive Editor of Ebony magazine. The secondary authority for the program is Dr. Benjamin Quarles, "The Negro in the Making of American Life". Dr. Benjamin Quarles chronicles the sweep of events that have brought blacks and their struggle for social and economic equality to the forefront of American life.  Through compelling portraits of central political, historical, and artistic figures such as Nat Turner, Frederick Douglas, Duke Ellington, Malcolm X, and the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Quarles illuminates the African American contributions that have enriched the cultural heritage of America.

Annually a competition is held entitled: 100 Black Men African American History Academic Challenge Bowl. This one-of-a kind academic challenge consists of two divisions of competition. The Junior Division which includes teams of students who have not yet entered the 9th grade. The Senior Division includes teams of students who have entered the 9th grade but whose graduation from high school shall not be earlier than January of the year of the applicable competition. Each chapter is allowed one team per division. The ultimate goal of every chapter president (senior division), is that the chapter entry will bring home “The 100 Cup” in one of the divisions. Awards include savings bonds and scholarships. You can view highlights of the 2004 challenge on the 100 web cast.