Positive Youth
Development
Program
The Positive Youth Development Committee of the 100 Black Men of South Florida created a new innovative outreach program targeting male middle school students in grades 6th, 7th and 8th living in the Greater Miami area.
The purpose of the "Positive Peer Pressure" program is to teach and empower young male middle school students, primarily of African descendants who are currently excelling in academics and behavior to continue to set and achieve positive life goals and cope with peer pressures that can deter them from achieving their goals. The program encourages and gives recognition to these young male students that help them build and maintain the self esteem and confidence they need to continue to excel academically and behaviorally throughout their academic years and life.
The Positive Youth Development committee works with the principals and their staff at Brownsville Middle School, Carol City Middle School, and Norland Middle School, North Dade Middle School, Richmond Heights Middle School and other schools. 100 Black Men of South Florida members have successfully interacted during school hours with these targeted students and engaged them in group discussions on the following topics: (1) "Positive Peer Pressure", a team building module designed to help these students learn how to support one another in the face of negative pressure (2) "Academics" in this module the students are introduced to the relationship between good grades/ behavior and their future earning potential and (3) "Career Choices" in this module students are introduced to the process of identifying their interest and their strengths as a foundation for discovering career options for themselves.
The strength of the Positive Peer Pressure program is the commitment of the 100 Black Men of South Florida members to come to the middle schools and share their professional and life experiences with students in the context of our discussion topics. We work directly with more than 150 male students each year giving them information, skills and tools to make a difference in their lives.
At the beginning of each school year the Positive Youth Development committee meets with the principal of each participating middle school to discuss plans and programs for the upcoming year. Positive Peer Pressure is a 3 year programming commitment to the middle school. During and after our commitment period the committee works with the schools to measure the impact of our involvement on these students. The program stresses to students the importance of setting goals and having personal development plans. Members offer help to these students in the development of their personal plans.
The 100 Black Men of South Florida/Positive Youth Development committee sponsors a meet the parents' nights at the beginning of each school year, to discuss the program content and congratulate them for their child being selected to participate in the program.
The 100 Black Men of South Florida recognizes each student who has successful completed the program with an appreciation gift and a certificate of accomplishment during their school's annual end of the year awards assembly.
Our plans are to expand the Positive Peer Pressure program each year, adding other middle schools within the Greater Miami area.
Please consider helping us financially by making a donation to the 100 Black Men of South Florida.
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