Table Talk
(A Mentoring Program with a Leadership Development and a College Preparatory Focus)

Chapters receive $10,000 grants to support the implementation of the “Table Talk” Leadership Development Program/College Preparatory Course, and one chapter event. Grant awards are for one year with potential funding for subsequent years. General Managers, District Managers and Regional Vice Presidents at host Cracker Barrel stores conducted the Table Talk sessions of this program.

This unique leadership development program also includes a college preparatory course, delivered by the Princeton Review, the leaders in standardized test preparation courses to graduate and undergraduate students. Chapters allocate a minimum of $3,000 to support ten (10) high school students’ participation in the ACT/SAT course. The program allows for additional resource allocation for other course selections at the chapter’s discretion.

Target Population

• Ten (10) Participants
• African Americans and other youth of color
• Males and/or females
• High School Sophomores and Juniors
• College Bound or Work Force Bound
• Minimum 2.0 grade point average
• Students with a strong desire to take advantage of leadership development opportunities 

Technical Assistance and Support
Recipients of the Cracker Barrel grant shall receive technical assistance through the National office of the 100 Black Men of America and Cracker Barrel. Technical support will include a program overview, implementation strategies, partnership building and marketing tools and techniques.

Session Overviews

Session 1: Creating your Values, Mission and Vision
· Take-Away: Students learn to write Values/Vision/Mission Statements
· Activity: Students bring their Values/Vision/Mission Statements for reporting during session

Session 2: Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals
· Take-Away: Students learn to write a S.M.A.R.T. goal and action plan for review
Activity: Students bring their S.M.A.R.T. goals and action plan for reporting during session

Session 3: Branding Yourself
Take-Away: Students write a resume and learn interviewing basics
Activity: Students present their resumes and do mock interviews during session

Session 4: Leading a Team
Take-Away: Students develop a year end report focusing on using their new skills
Activity: Students present their year end report at the Graduation Ceremony

Session 5: Closing Ceremony
A closing ceremony with Students, Family and 100 Members

Princeton Review College Preparatory Course Specs:

Program Requirements

• 6-week ACT/SAT preparation classes to each Student at a discounted rate of $300 (reduced from $1200)
• 6-week GMAT / GRE preparation classes to each Student for $300 (reduced from $1200)
• 6-week MCAT preparation classes to each Student for $400 (reduced from $1500)
• In connection with the above classes to each student, Princeton provided 4 tests during the 6-weeks periods (1 diagnostic test at the beginning of the course and 3 practice tests). Further, Princeton (i) tracks and reports weekly to each chapter the attendance records of its students; (ii) provide an aggregate report of each test on each student to the respective chapters, with a copy to the 100; and (iii) provides any additional information desirable in analyzing the student's capabilities and deficiencies.

Role of the Local Chapter

• Identifying each student (with a minimum of 8 students and a maximum of 15 students per class)
• Encouraging regular class attendance and participation of each of its respective students
• Providing a classroom facility for the classes in locations where Princeton does not have a facility available; provided, this shall not obligate Princeton to provide Services in areas where it does not maintain facilities
• Providing fees for each student as set forth above
• Proctor all test
• Copies of all tracking, evaluation, and reporting forms shall be maintained by the chapter for a period of not less than three (3) years

Role of Princeton Review

• Providing all classroom settings for the students in each of the cities where Princeton has facilities
• Providing instructors to teach each of the classes and perform all of the Services set forth above
• Providing all travel, lodging and other expenses for its instructors and staff
• Providing all books and other educational and testing materials
• Providing all classroom instruction, testing and assessments
• Providing the final and aggregate reports for each student

Role of 100 Headquarters

• Marketing of the Services of Princeton to the chapters
• Reporting to 100 constituents in the broader community
• Identifying potential sponsors and donors for the purpose of underwriting the chapters' expenses in connection with Princeton's services and implementing an appropriate internal grant process
• Monitoring of the program with Princeton and the chapters
• Reporting any required data to Cracker Barrel
• Monitoring this Memorandum with Princeton and making any changes agreed to in the best interest of the program by Princeton