WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) — Leaders in the 100 Black Men of Coastal North Carolina are sharing the importance of its organization during Black History Month.
It is part of 100 Black Men of America, which the organization describes as the largest African American-led youth mentoring organization in the world, with more than 110 chapters worldwide.
The Coastal North Carolina chapter was founded in 2007 and serves youth across five counties in southeastern North Carolina, primarily in New Hanover County.
One of the founding members of this chapter says he hoped to fill a gap in male role models in the community.
“We saw a need, you know, with our youth, and especially the black male young students, we saw a great need in our community to have them to focus. And we thought we could bring some quality of life to them,” John Battle said.
The chapter’s two primary programs include a middle school mentoring program, in which members are assigned to local middle schools, and the Success Academy — a co-ed program for students from late middle school through high school that meets at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Battle and other members met with their mentees on Saturday morning on the college campus.
They went over dining etiquette, how to conduct themselves in business meetings, and hands-on financial literacy training focused on stock trading and investing.
Kevin Briggs, president of the local chapter, said the organization’s programming is built around four priorities: economic empowerment, mentoring, education and health and wellness.
“You know, I consider it an honor, and it’s a great opportunity to really invest in young people, but also share what was shared with me along the way,” Briggs said. “It’s kind of paying it forward and giving back in a way that really helps to bring the value to our community overall.”
Not only is this club a way for students to get ahead in life, but also to build a meaningful community with other like-minded students.
One mentee says he’s grateful that he joined five years ago.
“Well, so first, I didn’t want to join this because I was scared. My mom made me do it, but once I, like, gotten into it, I was no more confident. I used to be antisocial, but I’m not anymore. I broke out of that,” Amari Libingi said. “This group made me — I made new friends, made new people, met new opportunities, and this is just a great place to be at.”
Libingi is a senior at Laney High School and plans to attend college.
“I had a really low [test] scores, but my score is higher now after I retook it. We worked on ACT and SATs. I got accepted into NC A&T and I’m going to be studying industrial engineering,” Libingi said.
Briggs said he knew Libingi would do great things with his life.
“I think if you talk with his family, they would definitely tell you that the 100 has had an impact on him. He’s very much a model citizen as a young person. And I think we have done our part in showing him that, you know, life can be all that you want it to be,” Briggs said.
Joseph Conway, who is on the board, says they make sure mentors show mentees through their own lives and actions how to be successful.
“The 100 Black Men, we actually have a trademark, and it’s called, what they see is what they’ll be. And no one else can use that. So it is paramount that our members, that anyone that we invite to be in front of our students, represents that. Something that they can achieve, something that they can overcome, something that they can see themselves fulfilling in the future.”
Conway says the youth can have the future they dream of by following a few steps.
“One, remain malleable. Always have the ability to adapt and change. Two, don’t believe everything that you see on social media. You define your destiny. You define the steps that you will take. You define your response to this tumultuous environment that we find ourselves in. And number three, Do what it takes to get there. Be settled in your heart and in your mind of what you want to achieve,” Conway said. “And if I had to have a number four, avoid the distractions. It’s okay to be distracted for the fun and just keep that youthful side of you. At the same time, when it comes to fulfilling your goal, be careful about the things that can derail you.”
