Greater Hartford Male Youth Leadership Program

About GHMYLP

The Greater Hartford Male Leadership Program (GHMYLP) is a highly structured and intense leadership experience designed to increase young men’s capacity to lead in multiple context-in their every day lives, communities and schools. Small group discussions, large group lectures and team building exercises will provide a rich learning environment for them to develop and enhance their leadership skills.

In collaboration with community-based agencies, our partnership seeks to minimize educational, economic and developmental disparities in African-American and Hispanic/Latino-American males through programs and curriculum designed to enhance and develop leadership and social skills.

Every young male participant will:

* Learn ways to enhance leadership skills
* Network and fellowship with other young males and leaders of the Greater Hartford community
* Understand the importance and value of education
* Gain exposure to higher education and college opportunities
* Have opportunities to give back to the Greater Hartford Community

The Facts are Clear:

* Nationally the graduation rates for white students is 78% compared with 55% of African-Americans and 52% of Hispanics
* 15% fewer minority males graduate compared to minority females
* In 2005-2006 the national drop rate decreased 7% primarily due to an increase in the incarceration rate
* In Hartford the drop out rate is 28% the third highest in the state
* The number of violent crimes in Hartford is 2.42 times the national average

It’s time to do more that just read the facts!

Statistics are from the CT General Assembly research data and the FBI report of offenses known

MISSION STATEMENT:

In collaboration with community based agencies, our partnership seeks to minimize educational, economic and developmental disparities in African-American and Hispanic Latino-American males through programs and curriculum designed to enhance and develop leadership and social skills.

VISION:

The Greater Hartford Male Youth Leadership Program is a highly structured and intense leadership experience designed to increase young men's’ capacity to lead in multiple context within everyday lives, communities, and schools. Our goal is to present a series of small group discussions, large group lectures, and team building exercises. The program will culminate in a weekend comprehensive conference.

The Dream

Kyle Anderson had a dream. Kyle is an active member of Hartford, Connecticut’s Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated (“Kappa”). His dream was to develop a leadership program for young men in grades 8-10. The Greater Hartford Male Youth Leadership Program (GHMYLP) is the result of collaboration, determination and persistence. “Changing Our Communities, One Young Man At A Time” is GHMYLP's motto—and its goal.

The mission of GHMYLP is to increase young men’s intellectual curiosity, confidence and ability to successfully direct their lives. GHMYLP teaches young men to be leaders in their communities and schools. Small group discussions with interactive exercises, large group lectures and team building initiatives provide a rich learning environment for the youth to develop and enhance their leadership skills.

The founding members of the GHMYLP recognized that opportunities for our young men are reduced and negated by poor choices, negative pressure, low self-esteem, and little or no exposure to positive male influences. So GHMYLP was intentionally designed to provide male youth with access to striving and successful males of color who can teach them the importance of discipline, education, hard-work, integrity, family and community.

The Reality

From an unshakable belief that more could be done to improve, and in some cases interrupt the tenuous journey of our young men, the GHMYLP emerged. With the help of community and corporate partners, and dedicated volunteers, a dream became reality. Countless hours of planning and preparation produced a core framework and strategy consisting of three one-day modules intended to expose the Alpha Class of GHMYLP to the principles and responsibilities of leadership.

The theme of the first module was workforce readiness. The session was hosted by Goodwin College in East Hartford, Connecticut. The focus was on networking and interviewing techniques. The module also taught the participants the importance of a well-groomed, professional appearance and good verbal skills. Students learned the critical role that solid communication and interpersonal skills play in opening or closing the doors to opportunity.

The second module focused on leadership in government and the value of having a voice in the laws and policies governing and impacting our everyday existence. Held at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut, the students learned the legislative process from proposing bills to getting laws enacted. Working with sitting state senators and representatives, and local government officials, students created a bill and lobbied for its passage.

Module three was entrepreneurship and the free market system. Metropolitan Learning Center in Bloomfield, Connecticut was the host site. This workshop utilized the skills acquired from the previous modules to help the participants understand the expertise and resources needed to develop, sustain or restructure a business. Additionally, the students learned how to move a product from conception to design to market.

The Finale

There was a fall, winter and spring module. Each one-day module was designed to incorporate and build on previously taught skills and techniques. At each module student participants were assigned to a group responsible for completing tasks related to the module’s theme. As a result, project-based learning afforded students practical experience that helped to give them a more personal and relevant connection to the principles and techniques taught.

One June 27-29, the members of the Alpha Class of GHMYLP came together for a weekend of workshops and activities designed to further stimulate their minds and stir their spirits. Hosted by Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut, students resided in a dormitory on campus for the weekend. For many it was their first time on a college campus and their first time away from home. Using the knowledge gained in the previous modules, the young men were challenged to consider, explore and absorb much more. Encouraged by staff and inspired by guest speakers, approximately seventy-five young men immersed themselves in self-awareness seminars, and leadership and cultural workshops intended to help them understand how to reach their full potential, and achieve their hopes and dreams. The roster of opening and closing ceremony participants included authors, motivational speakers, businessmen, college officials and educators.

When the closing ceremony ended on June 29th the young men could not wait to share with family members all that they learned that weekend. As parents arrived to pick up their sons the departures were bittersweet. It seemed the closing event came too soon. Yet the consensus was that the program was a success. The young men in the Alpha Class emerged excited about their experiences and hopeful about the future.

Now that the year’s activities for the Alpha Class are complete, it’s time for GHMYLP to prepare for the incoming Beta Class. We are planning some exciting additions to the 2008-09 program. One addition is to create a Peer Advisory Council (“PAC”) from our Alpha Class participants. This newly formed PAC must exemplify leadership qualities and, among other things, are expected to co-lead a module with Kappa Alpha Psi member(s). Collaboration in the planning and implementation of the content and activities for our modules will be critical to the success of this innovative Kappa-PAC partnership. Indeed, GHMYLP is changing our communities, one young man at a time.

* Testimonials

Thank you for all you do for the young men. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. May God continue to bless you and the GHMYLP. I will always be there to support you in anyway I can.

Beatrice Sullivan – Parent
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Thank you very much for the invitation. I thoroughly enjoyed my participation and welcome the opportunity to continue to be involved with this outstanding program. I’ll volunteer for the “BLB” Segment of each module (smile); a 15 minute segment on modeling our behavior after our President.

Greg Jones – Guest Speaker
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I too would like to say thank you for the great things you are doing for my sons and all the young black men that has participated in your program, please keep up the good work.

Loretta Ridley – Parent
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This was a great module. Malcolm got a lot out of it. He was very impressed with the speakers.

Dorinda Little – Parent
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Thank you for the work you are doing with my son and the other youth.

Andrew Woods – Parent
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Dear Mr. Anderson,

Thank you for the opportunity to a part of the Greater Hartford Male Youth Leadership Program. At Module III, I had a great time learning about entrepreneurship and how I can make a living doing something that I love. It was nice to be around and hear from others who knew a lot about entrepreneurship. My favorite part of the day was the group project. Even though I was not able to stay for the presentations, I was able to help work on a project and see the basics of being an entrepreneur. Overall, it was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. Thank you again.

Malcolm Little - Student
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Hello Kyle,

I just wanted to e-mail you to say that my son, Brandon Loyd had a wonderful time this weekend. He talked the entire ride home about how much he learned, especially the stock information, and he enjoyed meeting new friends. He has done some advertisement and has shared information about the program with his cousins and friends. I want to say a BIG “Thank You” to the GHMYLP staff. Your hard work is appreciated, what a wonderful jewel for the community!

Jane Pertillar - Parent

Greater Hartford Male Youth Leadership Program

A VERY BIG THANK YOU
VOLUNTEERS, FACILITATORS, SPEAKERS and PARENTS!

Dear GHMYLP Supporters:

With your participation, we had another great Quarterly Module for our young men. For those of you who volunteered for the first time, we hope this was just the beginning of your venture with the GHMYLP. Your time and efforts were greatly appreciated!

As always, our appreciation goes out to those volunteers whom we can continuously count on, each and every time, to be there for our youth.

The GHMYLP will continue to reach out to those individuals and organizations in our communities who are willing to share their knowledge and experience to give our young men the tools and "keys" they will need to build a successful future. We do welcome any information or insight you may have to better the program.

Parents... YOU made it happen! One-hundred percent (100%) of our students for this module came from you. We said it before and we'll say it again... we can only do this with your support! So keep doing what you do, it will pay off!

Please continue to check your email for upcoming information. We have already begun working on hosts and speakers for Module 3, "Plan B ~ Beyond the Game", April 11th, venue TBD.

We now have a new slogan given to us by one of our great speakers, Mr. Greg Jones, "BLB" which means "Be Like Barack". This is an uplifting internal message to all involved with GHMYLP.

Thank you again for your time and efforts.

Sincerely,

The GHMYLP Committee & Kyle Anderson
Program Director