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The Brotherhood: Eradicating the Prison Pipeline through
Lifelong Learning Strategies
Shelby T. Wyatt, Ed. D. Kenwood Academy H. S.
Chicago, IL
2013 – National Mentoring Summit
Agenda• Introduction• Issues affecting African
American males• Three “E’s” of Success• Definition of Life Long Learning• Kenwood Academy Brotherhood
– How to create a program– Program Resources– Data of Success
• Questions
Introduction
• Proud Product– Chicago Public Schools– State of Illinois Public
Postsecondary Institutions• Counselor at Kenwood Academy• Adjunct Professor at Argosy
University• National presenter on
importance of school based male mentoring
• Author of male mentoring literature
Life Long Learning…..?
Issues Affecting African American Males
• African American males challenge schools in many ways• Increasing disparity in the educational achievement of African
American males relative to their peers• The negative consequences of the achievement gap are more acute
for African American males who are victimized by chronic, systemic levels of poor performance and behavior problems in school.
• The loss of resources—intellectual, cultural, and economic—resulting from lower achievement reduces the capacity of African American males to be productive, integral, and contributing members of their communities
Davis, J. E. “Early Schooling and Academic Achievement of African American Males” Urban Education September 2003 vol. 38 no. 5 515-537
Issues Affecting African American Males
• The graduation rate for Black Male students for the nation as a whole in 2009/10 was 52%
• Latino males 60%. • White, non-Latino males was 78%. This is the first year that more than half of the
nation’s Black males in grade 9 graduated with regular diplomas four years later.
Schott 2012 Report – The Urgency of NOWhttp://blackboysreport.org/national-table-data
Issues AffectingAfrican American Males
• National Information: Receiving Special Education Services 2010-2011– Males: 123, 956
• Black males: 33, 411 – (0.8%)• White males: 56, 251 – (0.4%)
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics
• Chicago Public Schools Total Student Population: 404,151– Black students: 168, 020 (41.6%)– Free Lunch: 347,229 students (85.92%)– 5 year cohort Drop Out Rates – 51.3% (44.9% - White males)– 5-year Cohort Graduation Rates – 44.2% (51%-White males)– Students w/disabilities or 504 plans – 45.2%
Chicago Urban League Educational Report• 85% of Black Males Special Education placement • 46% of Black Males Expelled
Issues Affecting African American Males
There is a strong link between failure in school and a life of crime and imprisonment.
– “…young people across the country have been let down by the education system and by the adults responsible for their care and development. Now is the time to increase the investments we make in young people, enhance the content, opportunities and supports we provide, and empower them to make better choices about both their individual future and the future of our nation.”
Marc Morial, President National Urban League PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1bI8U)______________________________________________________________________________________________________
– “Male dropouts in Illinois and the U.S. are much more likely to be incarcerated than their female peers “
– “Black male dropouts in Illinois had by far the highest incarceration rate among the three major race-ethnic groups. Nearly 29% of 18 to 34 year old, Black male dropouts in Illinois were incarcerated in 2010 “
– “Incarceration rates of Black males fell sharply with their educational attainment, declining to under 8% for high school graduates and only 2% for Associate degree holders “
Sum, A., I. Khatiwada, J. McLaughlin, S. Palma. (2011). “High School Dropouts in Chicago and Illinois: The Growing Labor Market, Income, Civic, Social and Fiscal Costs of Dropping Out of High School”. Center for Labor Market Studies, Northeastern University.
Highlighting Opportunities and Addressing Challenges to Improve Education for African American Students
THREE “E’s” of Success
Kids don’t know that they don’t know
Kids aren’t always able to communicate their thoughts and feelings to satisfy their primary needs
Adults are expected to read their mind using your childhood memories as a guide
EVALUATION
EVALUATION• A Attitude• S Skill• K Knowledge
To promote Life Long Learning it is important to assess the A-S-K deficiencies that the students may have in order to eliminate the connection to the PRISON PIPELINE!
Assess the African American male experience that may prevent life long learning
EVALUATION
Family School Community
DysfunctionParenting StylesEconomic StrainExtended Family
DivorceAlcohol & Drug Abuse
Physical AbuseLow ExpectationHigh Expectation
LabelingDevelopmentally
InappropriateLow Academic progress
Low ScoresUnprepared
AccountabilityBullying
Gang Activity
Gang ActivityEconomic Strain
Affluent comparisonLack of resourcesChild predators
Having decision-making power. Having a range of options from which to make choices (not just
yes/no, either/or.) Assertiveness. A feeling that the individual can make a difference (being
hopeful). Learning to think critically; learning the conditioning; seeing
things differently; e.g., ◦ a. Learning to redefine who we are (speaking in our own
voice). ◦ b. Learning to redefine what we can do. ◦ c. Learning to redefine our relationships to institutionalized
power. Not feeling alone; feeling part of a group. Effecting change in one's life and one's community. Learning skills (e.g., communication) that the individual defines
as important Growth and change that is never ending and self-initiated. Increasing one's positive self-image and overcoming stigma.
EMPOWERMENT
Chamberlin, Judi (2011). National Empowerment Center
ENLIGHTENMENTRELATIONSHIP – Once a relationship has been established with students based upon the principles of PERSONALIZATION then the questions will start to flow.
As the move toward personalization unfolds, those in the forefront say it can raise students’ interest in learning, help them follow their passions, and ultimately boost achievement.
Davis, Michelle (2011). “Schools use digital tools to customize education” Edweek.org.
Continuous building of skills and knowledge
It occurs through experiences encountered in the course of a
lifetime. Training, counseling, tutoring,
mentorship, apprenticeship, higher education
Pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons
Learning does not end with a diploma or degree
Wikipedia Definition
Life long Learning
What is YOUR definition of • Life• Long• Learning?
EMPOWERMENTCreated to address:1.Low graduation rate of African American males in the Chicago Public School System
2. Low participation of males in non-athletic leadership roles at Kenwood Academy
3. Lack of knowledge of positive opportunities outside of the classroom
The Brotherhood◦ Weekly afterschool meeting◦ Continuous evaluation of
issues/trends/challenges◦ Leadership skill development
Self School Community Family
◦ Peer to peer mentoring◦ Exposure to enrichment opportunities◦ Demonstrate Conflict Resolution
techniques◦ Adult Ally
EMPOWERMENT: The Brotherhood
LIFELONG
LEARNING
The Brotherhood• Structured School Based Male Mentoring
Organization (30 week Curriculum)– American School Counseling Association• Academic Achievement• Personal/Social Development• Career Exploration
–NGUZO SABA• 7 Tenets of Kwanzaa
– Empowerment Theory – Freaire– Cultural Comprehension
The First Step is to see if there is a need for a program
The Second Step is to find highly motivated adults that are willing to give their time to work with students after school.
The Third Step is to create a Mission/Purpose that provides structure for the organization.
The Fourth Step is to create a Creed or a Code of Honor that represents your organization.
The Fifth Step is to recruit members
The Sixth Step is to create a program that fosters STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
7 Steps to Create a Program
7 Steps to Create a Program• The 7th Step is to collect DATA– Process Data
• How many participants• Contact information
– Perception Data• What are the participants perception of the success of
the program
– Results Data• Did your program work?
– Improved grades– Postsecondary Plans– Reduced discipline problems
Brotherhood Resources– Counseling Interns
• Individual Weekly Counseling Sessions• Contemporary Activities• Career Exploration
– Collaborations for Special Education Students– Fall and Spring College Tours– Northern Illinois University– DePaul University- Male Initiative Project
Conference– Harris Fellows Student Leadership
Organization– YMCA- Neighborhood Facility– Kenwood Brotherhood, Inc. (Alumni
Foundation)– Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
Brotherhood Data of Success
• Nationally Recognized Organization• 100% of active participants
graduate ON TIME• 79% attend college/16% - CPS Black
males• 54% attend a 4 year institution/12%
CPS Black males• Discipline Referrals declining• Postsecondary plans are increasing
Life Long Learning Quote
Questions
Contact Information
Kenwood Academy BrotherhoodDr. Shelby T. Wyatt, Coordinator
5015 South Blackstone AveChicago, IL 60615
www.kenwoodbrotherhood.com
The Kenwood Brotherhood, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 not for profit organization that welcomes your donations (finance, wisdom, adult support)
