Birmingham Mentoring Assistance Network

Our Genesis: In 2009, five metropolitan Birmingham men initiated the Birmingham Mentoring Assistance Network, Inc.  We are a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 organization operating within the guidelines of the Internal Revenue Service.  The Birmingham Man was organized to improve the quality of life for males ages 7 to 21 in the communities of metro Birmingham, Alabama.  According to Psalms 127:3-5, we believe that every child is like an arrow that has to be targeted for achievement.  Like archers, our program is designed to help our youth hit their targets and deter them from crime and academic failure.

Our Values: The Birmingham Mentoring Assistance Network stands on the principles of FOCUS.  Faith, Obedience, Consistency, Understanding, and Sacrifice.

Our Goal: The goal for the Birmingham Man is to become the most dependable mentoring program in the nation.

Our Mission: Our mission is to actively participate in the preparation of our sons’ promotion from a boy to a Man.

Our Vision: We are working to seize what we see.  We see our young men developing into productive leaders in their communities.  We see a great need in our city for more doctors, lawyers, CPA’s, architects, General Contractors, and other type of entrepreneurs who will win in business.  These young men will ultimately become employers offering citizens new employment opportunities and have a positive impact on the future of our region.  We see young men loving their families and encouraging other young men to pursue excellence in the classroom, on the job, at home, and in every aspect of their lives.

Our Initiatives and Programs: All of our programs are based on five key initiatives.  We believe that if every young men is developed in these five keys area that we will help produce young men who will make sure our future is covered.  We FOCUS on (1) Social Development, (2) Physical Development, (3) Academic Development, (4) Dexterity or Life Skill Development, and (5) Economic Development.  We coordinate workshops that include but are not limited to goal-setting, manhood, manners, character building, financial literacy, making healthy food choices, career exploration, tutoring, and more.  We plan visits to parks and other cultural, sports, and entertainment events.
Our primary outreach program is the In purSuit™ Session.  This program is designed to be conducted as a single session at your church, school, or organization.  The program is also designed to be conducted over the course of (8) eight sessions.  We believe that everyone is in pursuit of something; the question is what is it?  We believe that your appearance and your presentation play a very important role in how you go about reaching your goal.  We believe that young men are powerful but should also know how to harness that power.  We deal with all of these topics during our In purSuit™ Session while presenting ourselves in professional attire, a Suit.

Our Request: We request that you donate your time as a volunteer or a mentor.  An investment of one hour per month will add so much value in a youth over time.  We request that you donate cash contributions.  We are able to accomplish our goals because of the contributions of our donors and partners.  We request the support of the business community to help with the vocational and recreational activities where we can expose our youth to a variety of career exploration and apprenticeship opportunities.

Our Contact Information: We can be reached by phone at (205) 218-9687, by email at email@bhmman.org, or visit our website at www.bhmman.org. For celebrity booking, email us dangelo.webb@bhmman.org or call (205) 492-2220.  To book an In purSuit™ Session, contact us at robert.averhart@bhmman.org or call (205) 789-3266

The Gift of Music: Neo Jazz School of Music Instrument & Toy Drive

If you have not had a chance to hear the Neo Jazz Collective, from the Neo Jazz School of Music then I suggest you plan to attend The Gift of Music and prepare yourself for something spectacular.  The first time you hear these young people perform your ears have to tell your eyes that you are really seeing a group of young people deliver music like seasoned adults.  The school features a collection of talented young people ranging in age from 6 to 20 that perform jazz, neo soul, R&B and contemporary music.  On, Sunday, December 19, 2010, the Neo Jazz School of music will present The Gift of Music:  An Instrument & Toy Drive.  The event will feature a collection of popular holiday classics performed by the students and special invited guest.  Musical guest include dat2, Ree’ Al, Laura Luke, Jona Crooner and Sharrif Simmons from the Birmingham Arts and Music Festival, who will also host the event.  The event will showcase the talents of the students and deliver a collection of holiday and popular songs that we all know and love.  The event is an instrument drive and fundraiser for the school as well as a toy drive to support needy families during the holiday season.  The school is in need of instruments in order to continue providing free music lessons to area students.  Instruments may be donated at the event as well as cash donations in support of the school.  The City of Birmingham – Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services will conduct the Toy Drive and distribute donated toys to the needy families.

Sponsors of the Gift of Music include the Highland Conference Center, Magic City Smooth Jazz, Urbanham.com, The Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services and the Birmingham Arts & Music Festival.

About the Neo Jazz School of Music

Dr. Lud Yisrael started the school in 2004 as an outreach for area youth and teaches music, discipline and general life skills. The school offers free music lessons to beginning students from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm.  The mission of the Neo Jazz School of Music is enact a positive change in the youth of the community through education in music and the arts also to educate, train and develop gifted students into professional career artists.

For more information on the Neo Jazz Collective visit www.neojazz.net or call (205) 783-9880

The Gift of Music:  An Instrument & Toy Drive
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Highland Conference Center
2012 Magnolia Avenue
(Inside of the Pickwick Plaza in Five Points South)
Doors open at 4:00 pm, show begins at 5:00 pm
Admission: $10.00

Bringing back the ‘Magic’: The ‘Magic City’ sign, that is

Birmingham Mayor William Bell has ordered a scavenger hunt for the iconic “Magic City” sign, in hope of returning it to public display downtown.

More than half a century after the metal sign was dismantled, Bell received a tip that it still exists, in pieces, in one of the city’s warehouses.

“We want to try to get it back and resurrect this sign,” Bell said. “I remember it. We want to bring it back to the Magic City.”

Read more

Why African American relationships are failing?

I have seen strong black families all my life and I think there are larger forces at work in the US that helps to suppress the natural love we have for one another.

1. The label “Strong” is being misused by both men & women

Men’s definition of strong is educated, having a good job, making money.

Women’s definition of strong is educated, having a good job, making money

Using the above definitions of strong,

strong men + strong women = education + good jobs + money

It does not include the elements necessary for building a strong family.

The key does not lie in the individualistic ambitions of each person.

The whole must be greater than the sum of its parts.

2. In a capitalistic society, cooperation is not encouraged unless someone is being exploited.

Businesses are built on exploitation.

Competition and competitiveness is encouraged and rewarded. this spills over into relationships.

3. Trust is non-existent even between family members.
If you can’t trust your brother or sister, how much more difficult would it be to trust someone you are dating/married to.

4. Self-sacrifice is not valued. Selfishness is rewarded.

5. Life revolves around acquiring material things. The culture dictates that the more material things you possess, the more stature you will have gained and thus become powerful.

The problem is that that kind of power is empty since it is not anchored in the true essence of who you are.

The daily struggle to maintain status causes a great deal of anxiety that also spills over into relationships and how courting occurs.

Thus the baller types stand out initially to the resentment of the average joe until women are matured and then the average joe lashes out from years of being rejected based on the materialistic model of courting.

6. The nuclear family.
This type of family arrangement is NOT compatible for the African family.
It is beneficial to members of the white race since they already have a 400 year head start as a group to afford teh luxury of surviving family breakups.

If you look at the progress of all other groups you will see a clear pattern of the extended family at work.

Hispanic parents, grandparents help to maintain discipline, sense of identity, sense of culture. Financially there is no cost to baby sitting, nursing home fees etc…
This type of family withstands divorces since there is a greater chance that another male or female role model exists in the household.

Same goes for Italian families, Asian families etc….

Black/African families are emulating a group that is declining in numbers.

What do you think ?

Rolling the dice on UAB!

I always had a feeling that UAB was the best resource in the area and a recent report by Tripp Umbach certainly helps add some value to my feelings.

The report highlights that the University of Alabama at Birmingham reported its total economic impact is $4.6 billion on the state of Alabama, with more than 61,000 jobs related to the university in fiscal year 2008-2009.

The report said $1 out of every $36 in the state’s economy is related to activity at UAB. The university also generates more than $300 million in state and local tax revenue.  UAB’s economic impact is expected to grow to $6.6 billion by 2020, generate more than 72,000 jobs and create more than $400 million in state and local tax revenue.

What does this mean?  It means that UAB is the foundation that the citizens of Greater Birmingham need to embrace.  So let’s drop the notion of a professional sports team and rally around the UAB Blazers as the home team.  Alabama and Auburn will continue to be the football powerhouses in the state but UAB can see a tremendous increase in the programs ability to produce top notch athletes that make it to the professional ranks through the building of a state of the art football stadium and first class training facilities.  Of course coaching will be on the mind of everyone that reads this article but in order to attract coaches that can build the UAB Football program there will need to be some infrastructure changes in the works. Keep in mind that UAB basketball and soccer have been ranked programs as well as many of the academic and medical programs.  However, in the south football rules so the social investment has to be considered and the citizens of this great city must be willing to support it!

According to the report UAB is planning a five year $417.8 million dollar campus expansion, increases in general staff, faculty, undergraduate and graduate students and research.   While the plans don’t include a new football field and complex you have to believe these options could be considered as the plan continues to develop, especially if school administrators see more support from the community.

With plans to move Barons Baseball back to Birmingham and Railroad Park eventually becoming attached to the UAB campus the future is bright for Blazer Country!

• Get the full story (Birmingham Business Journal)
• Download the UAB Economic Impact Summary

The Smith Family: Maybe a Formula for Generational Wealth

A few months ago I submitted a post about Will and Jada Smith and how they seem to be positioning their children to create their own legacy from a foundation that we have all seen develop since The Fresh Prince, A Different World and Jason’s Lyrics came into our lives over 20 years ago.  Despite the obvious family fortune, the Smith’s seem to be making it their business to uncover the talents of their children and expose it to the world.  After checking out Willow Smith’s latest music video and watching the Karate Kid on DVD I felt it was appropriate to revisit this story and see how it applies to African American Families and the creation of wealth within the black community.

What’s in the value of a name?  A name is very important in my opinion. Of course a famous name is easy to recognize but the most important thing to me is the bond that exist between family members that share that name. Does the value reside in the fact that Will and Jada have millions of dollars to pass on to their children but the beauty in the vision of parents that seem to be doing whatever they can to uncover the gifts of their children?  We don’t have to look towards Hollywood for these types of examples but in our own communities.  There are many African American families that place extreme value in the growth of their children and strength in their family.   There are African American families all over the country that have a rich heritage, important names and great contributions to their community.  Despite this we continue to see issues in the African American community as divorce, absentee fathers and other factors play a huge part in dismantling the African American family.

It’s my opinion that a new frame of thinking has to take place in the African American community.  We have to start planning to leave wealth for our children and then teach our children how to leave wealth to their children.  This wealth won’t come over night however, as I listened to Elder George Stewart say in a recent seminar, “You have to be all in!”  Well my friends, we need to be “all in” if we want to see a change in our communities.  What does this mean?  We have to commit to not be selfish for starters.  Men, Father’s, Dad’s whatever we call ourselves must step up to the plate and be willing to raise our children despite the situation.  When I say our children I also mean those children that are not biologically ours.  Support community programs, encourage the young people in your reach to strive for greatness and certainly reach out to the young men and women in our extended families. Mother’s have to understand the need for their children to develop a relationship with their fathers.  There is no longer room for hatred from a bad relationship.  Instead be happy that you may have been saved from a bad situation and make sure your child has a relationship with his father, if all possible.

I think one of the biggest problems that we suffer with as a race is that we have to “show-off” what we have.  This used to a be a male dominated issue but it seems that more and more women have also fallen into this trap for whatever reason. We are certainly a “Me Generation”, with a need to showcase our expensive cars, clothing and jewelry.  This seems to hold a greater value in our community than a couple that has been married for 20 plus years.

The changes I am suggesting will bring an extremely huge sacrifice and a very slow forming solution but one that will certainly help bring change to the African American community over time.

In the book, Our Kind of People: Inside America’s Black Upper Class, author Lawrence Otis Graham, looks into the lives of prestigious African American families that have experienced years of family wealth.  Critics of the book suggest it is one-sided and self serving but the fact remains that there are African American families that have generational wealth.  How did they do this? What has to happen to create more wealth in the African American community?  What roles should a strong black elite play in America and how would it benefit everyone else in the country and across the world?

The Smith family has certainly stepped in and created an International spotlight for an African American family.  However, how do we create role models like this in other industries outside of entertainment.  Is it easy to find generational wealth and an elite class of African American families in the medical community, automobile industry, politics, technology and other areas?  Of course there will always be a “social front” and the need for a group of people despite color to fit into a certain social and financial class.  However, one thing I must say about African American wealth is that a millionaire with African American roots will always have those ties and family heritage.  This means donations, volunteer and economic development opportunities will always take priority in the mind of this person.  The more African American elite families the world creates the better chance we have of seeing more resources funneled to education, health and social programs that benefit African Americans.   I would think the Obama family is a prime example of how effective outreach can be targeted to help better the lifestyles of other people. Before taking on the top job in the country, President Obama and his wife were dedicated to supporting social programs that would ultimately help select groups reach for a better lifestyle.  We can certainly see this in many of the programs and special projects the Obama family have taken on over the past two years.  There is no doubt this is the role that other well off African American families would take so the creation of black family wealth seems to be a key factor in changing our communities.

The formula seems simple but the challenges of getting people to share, not be so self-serving, volunteer, be good stewards of resources and seek change are all grouped into one huge problem.

So what are some basic steps to consider for building Generational Wealth

• Educate your family on financial matters.  Everyone should be “all-in” and understand why they need to start planning for building generational wealth.  Lead by example, and do your best to show your family how important it is to save and not overspend.  Be realistic on your needs for housing, transportation and clothing.  In the African American community we like to look good and ride good which makes it really easy to spend more than we should.  Home ownership is certainly important and if you have to spend more in this area and cut back in other areas then so be it.   I know that home ownership is not for everyone so don’t be afraid to explore other areas of wealth building but I was always told you can’t go wrong with real estate!

• Life Insurance – We hate to think about death but its real and the best way to protect your family is to secure life insurance. If something happens to you or your spouse not only have you given your family the financial resources they need to live but additional income for education, investing and wealth building.  So remember, life insurance offers your family an immediate estate if something happens to you or your spouse.

• Reward hard work not behavior! I think it’s good to give your children gifts or money for grades and hard work.  I know there are plenty of people that may not agree with this but i believe hard work with some type of reward incentive gives a child a value system.  However, I do believe that good behavior should be expected.

• It’s never too late to get started! We often feel that if we are over 40 or even 50 we have waited to late.  Well that is just not the case.  While  you can’t erase the past you can always plan for creating wealth with your family.  If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other youthful family members that can benefit from your practice you won’t go wrong.

By the way … check out Willow Smith’s latest video.

2nd Annual Black Friday Event: The All Black Affair

First Impressions Marketing Group will host the 2nd Annual Black Friday: All Black Affair Event at the M Lounge in Downtown Birmingham on Friday, November 26, 2010.  The second annual event was created by Jarvis Escott and provides a great time to Party with a Purpose by donating toys that will be given to needy families for the holidays.

• Presented by Farmers Insurance 2010 SWAC Football Championship
• The event will be hosted by Alabama 13′s Bettina Boateng with musical performances by Yung Vokalz & Precision Grooves.
• Doors open at 8pm and you will get FREE admission with an unwrapped toy before 10pm.
• All door proceeds and toys will be donated to Impact Family Counseling.

This event is brought to you by First Impressions Marketing Group & B Brian

For more information, call 205-527-0416 or email blackfridaybham@gmail.com
Advance Tickets: General $10VIP $20.

Click here for vendor, sponsorship and additional information.

“CHOCOLATE NUTCRACKER BIRMINGHAM” Ticket Giveaway for Youth Service Organizations

Local youth service organizations can call the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services (DYS) to reserve your tickets to “CHOCOLATE NUTCRACKER BIRMINGHAM”, on its 2010 National Tour. For “One Night Only”, come experience cultural heritage through dance, song, rhythms, narration and drama. Entertainment for the entire family!   The event takes place on Friday, November 11, 2010 at the Boutwell Auditorium beginning at 7:30 PM. There is also a special matinee showing for Birmingham students.

The Chocolate Nutcracker is a professional musical stage production by LaVerne Reed of New York. Set in early 50’s Harlem, this production tells the story of young Claire and the Chocolate Nutcracker doll, shaped like a prince, as the two journey around the world in a dream.

Beginning today, organization leaders (Executive Directors, School Principals, Pastors, Coaches, etc.) can call DYS at 205-320-0879 between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to reserve tickets for the youth they serve.  Up to three (3) tickets may be reserved per organization to help your efforts toward serving youth who will not be attending the student matinee showing earlier that day. Tickets will be dispersed on a first-come, first-serve basis until all tickets have been disseminated.

Youth service organizations wanting to purchase additional tickets may do so at a discounted rate of $10 per ticket by contacting Project Hopewell at 205-902-0475.

Organizations must call DYS to request tickets.  No email requests will be accepted.

For more information about the Chocolate Nutcracker Birmingham Ticket Giveaway, call DYS at 205-320-0879.

The Blueprint for Economic Prosperity: Is Birmingham Ready?

By Vickii Howell
Birmingham View

The Blueprint for Economic Prosperity: Is Birmingham Finally Ready?

Today, in Birmingham’s newest park — the result of community collaboration — comes the unveiling of a new plan for economic prosperity that is also the result of community collaboration.

The Birmingham Business Alliance will formally release Blueprint Birmingham, a strategic action plan that might finally help Birmingham unleash its always latent but awesome potential. If followed with the same thoughtful planning, cooperative spirit and passion that created the Railroad Park, this plan can guide Birmingham toward its destiny as a great city.

It sounds grandiose, I know. Hope has taken brutal beatings in this town. How many “great city” plans and studies have we created over the years, only to lay them on dusty shelves? Do you have enough fingers to count them on?

I’m beginning to wonder if division is in the DNA around here. Division is everywhere — on every level, across racial and socio-economic lines — even though we know we should come together. Together, we stand. Divided, we fall. Divide and conquer. This place is a virtual graveyard of  vanquished ideas.

I am not saying this to be pessimistic. Not at all. You know me better than that. I’m just wondering whether we have skinned our knees, bumped our heads, and had our hearts broken so many times that we have finally grown tired of being sick and tired, tired of being broke as a joke, and tired of watching the world pass us by as we stagnate on stupid.

I am saying that we must ensure that Blueprint Birmingham never becomes one of those nice, but time-wasted, big vision plans that go nowhere. We can’t afford to let that happen anymore. Birmingham has stood still too long while the rest of the country and the world – heck, even other parts of the state — moved forward without us. Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Raleigh, Louisville, Memphis, St. Louis, and even little Chattanooga have made tremendous strides toward prosperity while we bickered and dickered over racial politics and governance issues of every stripe, on every level.

Now, to be sure, we have had some economic and community successes since the 1960s – a relatively successful transition from the steel industry, UAB’s phenomenal growth, Southern Research Institute’s innovations, Downtown Birmingham’s budding redevelopment (wait, I’m still thinking), the explosive growth along U.S. 280 and in the suburbs, the Oxmoor Valley development, the “Three Parks Initiative” (Ruffner Mountain, Red Mountain and the Railroad parks), signature cultural institutions, major arts events and yes, American Idols (go Ruben and Taylor!).

But celebrating these accomplishments is like congratulating your kid who improves to become a C-student when you know she is an A-student. Birmingham has the capacity and power to do more, much more. But we have settled for a kind of middling mediocrity instead of greatness. We have chosen selfishness over unity, racial hatred over brotherly love, divisive politics over unifying principles.

We simply have not set our collective minds and hearts on doing better, with the kind of passion and resolve normally reserved for football games.

I hope this changes. Starting today. Starting from the $23 million Railroad Park, a public and private collaborative between the City of Birmingham and citizens united for a better park.

I hope that we can become a region of cities and citizens united for world-class education for all children, no matter the city or ethnicity. United for reduced crime and poverty in all neighborhoods. United for a regional transit system that works for everyone. United for better infrastructure and technological advances. United for better businesses and more jobs across every spectrum.

I believe Blueprint Birmingham can give us an opportunity to unite and create the better Birmingham we want and need. We just have to be open to the possibilities

Blueprint Details

I have seen the basic Blueprint Birmingham plan, its goals and objectives. It has a lot of good stuff in there. I won’t spoil the show for the BBA and give away too many details. You will get the full Monty after it’s unveiling today at 5:30 p.m. in Railroad Park.

This is what I can tell you now.

Blueprint Birmingham is founded upon a unified vision, condensed into a single statement based on thousands of suggestions from area citizens who participated in developing its framework:

“The Birmingham region will provide abundant economic opportunities, excellence in education, and an unparalleled quality of life for all its citizens.”

To accomplish this vision and address the challenges we face, regional leaders identified four key goal areas:

1.    Public and Private Leadership: turning regional leaders into a corps of unified and progressive drum majors, if you will, who engage the community to implement the plan’s objectives and actively recruit the next generation of leaders who will carry the baton into the future;

2.    Workforce Development: creating a competent force of workers and entrepreneurs through education that starts from pre-K and continues to technical school and/or college;

3.    Economic Prosperity: leveraging innovative research, strengthening existing businesses, and attracting and supporting new businesses (particularly among ethnic minorities) to usher in new economic prosperity for all;

4.    Community and Regional Stewardship: improving upon the area’s “quality of place” by making the Birmingham region and its amenities safe and attractive, and turning its citizens into its best advocates.

You can also hear more about Blueprint Birmingham at the town hall meeting organized by the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists on Tuesday, Sept. 28, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Alabama Power Headquarters Building. (See the press release for more details here.) Refreshments and seating are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. So come early, grab a few snacks and take part in a community discussion on the plan.

Guests include Birmingham’s Mayor William Bell, Hoover’s Mayor Tony Petelos among other political, business, and civic leaders.

This moment calls to mind a line in one of The Matrix movies. (So many powerful principles in that trilogy!). The wise old woman, The Oracle, tells the movie’s hero, “I’m interested in one thing, Neo: the future. And believe me, I know, the only way to get there is together.”

The only way Birmingham will ever reach its potential is by all its citizens coming together, united for a single purpose: a bright, prosperous future for the City of Birmingham and the region. There’s nothing in Blueprint Birmingham that any rational person should be against. Consensus should be easy. After all, it simply embodies our own thoughts and wishes. Who doesn’t want a better community, except for a handful of ruffians and negative Nellys?

The only question is, do we have the passion and will to make Blueprint Birmingham happen? Only time will tell.

Get more on Blueprint Birmingham here.

Vickii
http://www.birminghamview.com

Vote Alexis Barton, Birmingham Belle!

Urbanham.com Fashion & Lifestyle Blogger, Alexis Barton, is a Birmingham Belle Finalist and needs your vote to seal the deal!

Alexis Barton is a native of Brewton, Alabama and received a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Humanities with a concentration in Literature from the University of Alabama. An occasional model, Alexis is employed by PricewaterhouseCoopers and is also an accomplished, award-winning writer. Her social commentary is noted for its wit and wisdom and has appeared in Ebony, The Birmingham News and in blogs for skirt! magazine and Urbanham.com under the name LexintheCity. Alexis is currently completing a collection of Southern Gothic short stories. Alexis never met a stiletto she didn’t like and loves cooking Creole cuisine, watching Crimson Tide football, collecting vintage clothing and spending time with loved ones. She cannot live without MAC lipglass, a good book and laughter. Alexis believes “pretty is as pretty does” and enjoys lending her time to community service efforts in the Birmingham area in her spare time. Highlights of that service include working as an outspoken advocate for survivors of rape and sexual assault through the Crisis Center, participating in Birmingham Reads with the Literary Council, and serving as a Project Homeless Connect host through the United Way Young Leaders Society.

The Southern Belle is someone whose charm and style captivates a room. Our Birmingham Belle Finalists were selected based not only on their personality, but also their involvement in our community. Email your vote to info@myscoop.us with your favorite Belle in the subject line. The winner will be announced at the Beaus and Belles Event at Bromberg’s at the Summit on November 11 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. and will receive $1000 gift certificate to Bromberg’s, boots from Wedge Welly, and more! Be sure to Save The Date for the Beaus and Belles Event sponsored by Bromberg’s, Hoover Toyota, and Tag Heuer.”

Vote for Alexis today at http://myscoop.us