Back to School Jefferson High School & Encouragement from Community
PDX SOCIAL — By rahmielmitchell on September 8, 2009 at 6:37 pmBack to School Jefferson High School
Men and Friends,
Today is the first day of school at Jefferson High School. A group of local NE people gathered to offer 
students words of encouragement. This gathering coincides with the Million Father March coordinated by the Black Star Project in Chicago, the gathering was a neighborhood effort to support Jefferson High and public schools. Everyone who participated was a guest of Jefferson High and Principal Dr. Cynthia Harris.
The goal of the day was to make good eye contact, demonstrate a firm handshake, and offer our best words of encouragement to students. The group greeted as many students as time permitted.
The message to the students was to inspire them to give their best efforts for the entire school year, from day one. The group wants to get to know as many students as possible, and to support the schools programs.
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12 Comments
This was a great event! The students were very friendly and open to shaking our hands as we greeted them. Cool event!
Will they be back later in the year to check on these students?
I look forward to your coverage of the groups continued efforts there throughout the year. I know you will be there, and we would love to see how it has helped the students there.
Yes, this was great- but I too ask will this be ongoing. These students and staff need consistent reminders that they aren’t alone in this fight . Consistency is the only way thats gonna happen. I will say I admire the black men in our community stepping up and realizing they play a vital part in the healing of our community! Good job guys!
The answer to the question on whether or not there will be follow-up on schools from the collective whole of brothers? Yes! YES! and YES!…lol. This effort is just the scratch on the surface to what we are trying to do in letting our community know that there are positive Black Men who are making a difference, But even more importantly letting our children visibly see black men working together other than for negative purposes…
I ask that you continue to pass the word on to other brothers to become a part of the movement of Black Men stepping it up.
That’s what I’m talking about! Ionka nailed it: CONSISTENCY in the affirmation that being in school is an essential *struggle* for underrepresented groups in this world to acheive equity in status and opportunity.
OG, thank you for reassuring us on this point. We will pass it on and continue to encourage those around us to succeed.
I for one am not as interested in these particular men returning as I would like to see those asking about it to VOLUNTEER for next year!!! I applaud Ms. Nelson for having the ingenuity; drive and determination to gather such an awesome group of community leaders, fathers and caring Black Men. As the EO Specialist for Tulane University’s Institutional Equity office, I am uniquely positioned to see what strong male leadership and compassion, coupled with ideas put into action means: lower drop-out rates and higher post-secondary entrance of largely underrepresented groups on campus. The work being done here is in its beginning stages. Surely this will not be a “one time thing…” Now that you’ve noted a ‘trend’ in the first-time, feel-good aspects of community-based programs like Ms. Nelson’s, let me challenge you to this: give 12 days a year of your life to a program like this one. I volunteer at a church where I don’t share the same denomination, yet you can find me there. Even if it is to give someone a ride home or listen to their concerns, I do it: willingly and without thought of payments/aggrandizement. I’ll check back in a year as well and what I hope to find is that YOU have made YOURself available to this wonderful program or to one of a dozen other resource-needed organizations in or around your hometown. Do it for yourself and most importantly, do it for the children.
We have invited the Black Men Working (BMW) Group to return to our campus any morning their schedules allow. They will be joining us on Tuesday Sept 15 at 7:45am until 8:20am to greet students again. Please hear the clarion call - you are all welome to come and be present for the students. I welcome your commentary and even more I will welcome you to our halls. Dont ask for whom the bell tolls folks - it tolls for thee. Dont just write about it, be about it - come to Jefferson, get someone you else you know to come to Jefferson so that you’ll know that the program is consistent and ongoing. I am Kenya Nelson Smith and you can reach me at kmns503@yahoo.com to volunteer. Regards From in The “Village”, Kenya
Excited about Black Folks doing big thangs in the for our Black Youth in our communities. Cultural Assertiveness is definitely a must when systems are against you.
As a retired teacher -who worked at Jefferson- I am volunteering each tuesday. Come join us. I’m loving reconnecting. Also, we are beginning a project that will document many of the jefferson graduates by using thier picture and a brief bio. Let us demonstrate the many successful graduates of Jefferson High School. Interested …contact me: geoffrey.brooks@comcast.net
Peace & Power
Brother Brooks
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