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Too few underprivileged citizens and emerging minority scholars have a solid understanding of constitutional and economic principles. This lack of understanding prevents a major segment of the population from thinking critically about social and economic issues and instead condemns them to accepting sound bites, which may not represent solutions that are in their best interest or the best interest of the Nation. As a result, politicians are allowed to enact with impunity ineffective or counterproductive policies, many of which have crippling effects on the general welfare.
Our Strategy: Impart to our young men a firm understanding of the fundamentals of government so that they not only can encourage their peers to demand more from their leaders, but become more effective leaders and advocates themselves.
Many people form opinions about the government without a clear understanding of government’s role and function. Pessimists claim that the entire system is corrupt, while others suffer from an over-reliance on government to solve their problems. Both of these views are extreme and can be moderated through education and exposure.
Our Strategy: Teach our young men fundamental economic and constitutional principles, engage them in public policy analysis, and encourage them to consider unconventional solutions that can work.
Too few students are inspired to pursue academic excellence or given proper guidance to pursue their dreams. This problem is especially troublesome in the black community, where too many students suffer from a lack of the guidance, motivation and exposure necessary for high academic achievement and college readiness. Lofty goals are critical to high achievement, but equally important are individuals who can help young people chart their course to success.
Our Strategy: Introduce our students to individuals of historical consequence who can inspire and help them realize their dreams. Additionally, inclusion in our network of high-achievers provides support for each of our scholars throughout their collegiate and professional careers.
Not enough minority students are taking advantage of experiential learning opportunities. While the number of students working at internships has grown over the last two decades, many black students graduating from college do so without any relevant work experience. This makes them less marketable than their peers. For these young men to achieve the career success that will enable them to lead our society, they need to participate in intensive internship experiences while in college.
Our Strategy: Work with employers to design internship opportunities that require significantly more responsibility than typical internships. These experiences give our students a competitive advantage when they begin their careers.
Today’s educational system is failing to teach leadership and professional skills to students. Many young adults lack the basic skills that are required for success in today’s marketplace.
Our Strategy: Conduct intensive training seminars in important areas such as ethical decision-making, personal and business etiquette, professional communication, and even information technology.
Black America is suffering from a lack of fathers and an abundance of children being raised in single-parent households. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education reports that only 41 percent of nine-month-old African American children live with their fathers, compared to 88 percent for white children. This sad reality has broad implications, including the reduced self-esteem that results from a sense of abandonment, a lack of positive male influence, a lower standard of living, and a sense of hopelessness that far too many young men feel before they enter high school. This situation leaves many African American boys susceptible to the allure of gangs, drugs, and other negative influences.
Our Strategy: Create a network of men of character who value the traditional family and recognize the importance of the family structure in the development of young children, especially boys. We inspire our Scholars to seek opportunities to become mentors to boys who may be growing up without a father in their lives. They begin this practice during their Institute summers, with each cohort designing a program to mentor younger boys in the Washington area.
Too few talented young people are inspired to place service to others ahead of their personal ambitions. Our society encourages and rewards the pursuit of fortune and fame for strictly selfish purposes. We believe the pursuit of personal success as a means by which our students can serve others is a nobler and more fulfilling pursuit.
Our Strategy: Address the issue of service throughout the Institute experience and introduce talented young men to prominent individuals—especially African American men—who have dedicated their lives to serving their country and their communities. These individuals range from Cabinet Secretaries to heads of local community service organizations.
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