Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Alliance for Positive Youth Development"

The Alliance for Positive Youth Development

APYD

Good morning A.A+W and FUTURE readers. In today's social world, I would say that the Youth is our main priority. As the world continues to grow and we continue to age, the younger generation need the tools and support to sustain our economy, our cultures, communities, and our wellness. I recently became an Advisory board of member of The Alliance for Positive Youth Development due to my commitment around issues that impact Youth who are LGBT identified, Youth who struggle with bullying, and young aspiring artists.

The Alliance for Positive Youth Development, a SISGI Group initiative, works to increase the positive outcomes for youth in the U.S. Please take a moment to watch this video that shows a visual of what the APYD does. Learn more about how you can get involved in moving the needle on youth development at:

http://sisgigroup.org/apyd

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Opening Act NY 10for10 Campaign"

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Opening Act NY 10for10 Campaign"

A.A+W

with Cornelius Jones Jr.

Tune in next Wednesday for more

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness with Cornelius Jones Jr.

Stay connected with me:

www.corneliusjonesjr.com

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Twitter: CorneliusJonesJ

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Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Torya and her Notes on Ubuntu"

Ubuntu Scholars Program

An under-funded education system is often left to focus on student test scores and performance alone; personal development falls by the wayside. While increasing academic performance is the chief aim of the Ubuntu Scholars program, filling the void in enrichment education is a major part of the program.

Most students in the Port Elizabeth townships do not have access to programs that fall outside of the basic academic curriculum. Beginning in January 2010, Ubuntu Education Fund will expand enrichment classes for their students in 3^rd-6^th grade students. The expanded after-school classes will supplement their current academic weekend classes at Kip McGrath. Many students for the first time will have the opportunity to participate in classes as diverse as Yoga, baking, and ceramics. The classes are designed to bolster students’ creative thinking and team-building skills, as well as their self esteem. .

The program perfectly dovetails with Ubuntu’s current academic enrichment classes offered at Kip McGrath. Students receive individualized tutoring on basic math and English in order to give them “a strong foundation for their future studies,” according to Jacob Lief, President and Founder of Ubuntu Education Fund.

Studies have shown that these early-education programs will significantly help students maintain their focus and involvement with their education, and ultimately lead to greater academic success. The Ubuntu Scholars programs will not only offer children opportunities for their personal enrichment, but provides student with skills so they can enter university at the top of their class.

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Torya and Her Notes on Ubuntu"

Ubuntu Education Fund is positioning music as its bridge between Port Elizabeth and the rest of the world.

With that in mind, we have developed a partnership with Philadelphia band, GrindCity. GrindCity’s commitment is the real deal; they are a socially conscious band as concerned with the message as the music. They have recently garnered rave reviews as the opening act for Living Colour: http://bit.ly/OmDPC

The band continues to impress fans while spreading awareness about Ubuntu Education Fund and the importance of practicing safe-sex. By making music that moves the crowd and partnering with causes they genuinely believe in, GrindCity has yet to hit a false note.

For details about the tour please visit them at:

Check them! http://www.myspace.com/joandgrindcity

Myles to the Rescue

It takes a whole village to raise a child and Robert Lee Myles Jr PERIOD is doing just that. I have a very dear friend that has been in my corner since I was in high school and serves as a mentor for an entire community that is expanding everyday. Robert is a role model who has created an organization that trains boys to men and prepares them for the world. Robert is the core founder of an organization that is contributing in making men of color a positive statistic instead of a negative one I could brag for days about what Robert and his organization is up to or I could just allow you to see what he has to say about Myles Boys Recovery and how we as a community can reach out to America’s youth.

1. So who is Robert Myles?
Robert Myles is 36yr old young African American male that puts everything into helping others.

2. What is Myles Boys Recovery?
Myles Boys Recovery is a non profit organization that is out to help young males dealing with pure pressure, home issues, is a part of me. I help with getting them on the right track to keep them as productive parts of society by teaching them life management skills such as working on vehicles, house hold training, money management, and how to become strong men with dignity.

3. What made you start Myles Boys Recovery?
Living life and seeing the ruff road I had to go down with little to no help. I wanted to make at least this part of a young mans life to be a little bit easier.

4. Where is Myles Boys Recovery based out of?
Although this began in my home town of Dumas Arkansas in 1988 we have established homebase in Little Rock, Arkansas.


5. Will the organization be branching outside of this area? When?
Yes. The goal is to open a branch in 48 states. As soon as funding is available federal and/or private. We believe that there should be no barriers to help young men become everything they need to be, including state lines.

6. Who has been your largest influence in wanting to give back to your community?
My father. By his absence in my life I needed to work harder to become the man that I needed to be. His absence affected me in such a way that I wanted to do whatever I could to keep other young men from going through the emotions and motions that I had to. With the necessary life tools we provide I believe we can prevent unnecessary struggle; the roads in life are already difficult enough.

7. What are some of the things you are teaching your mentees through you organization?
I teach them how to come out of being a teenager to become a productive, educated man. Educating on life and give them an alternative route to life. They are taught to respect self and others and that hard work is the key to most things in life.

8. Who is your specific target?
Young men ages 13 to 25 that are in or have been in a broken home environment, such as the ones with parents on drugs and/or with alcohol addiction.

9. What is your goal with the organization?
The goal will be to achieve national services and even a branch in South Africa. The goal of South Africa is providing an education on how to become that strong man in a school setting.

10. How can the community assist you in making this vision excel?
By donating funding of types but more so supporting and educating the youth in their community.

Get more information on Myles Boys Recovery and contribute by visiting http://www.mylesboysrecovery.org/