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On the heels of a growing body of research revealing that the isolation
and negative outcomes for African American men and boys is more extreme
than previously acknowledged, the Open Society Institute has launched a campaign to promote Black men and boys' achievement. For example, more than 50% of all
African American boys do not finish high school and a mere 18% of black males aged 18 to 21 are enrolled in college. A black child was
more likely to grow up with both parents during the era of slavery than
today, and 13% of black men cannot vote because of
felony disenfranchisement laws.
"The promise of America will only be achieved by reversing the
outcomes that prevent black men and boys from realizing their
potential," said Shawn Dove, manager of OSI's Campaign for Black Male
Achievement. "Nothing defeats the spirit of open society more than
marginalizing a group of people," said Dove, a community leader with
more than two decades of experience in youth development, education,
and organizing.
Building on U.S. Programs' previous work to
promote racial justice and reduce over-incarceration, the campaign aims
to reform educational outcomes and improve economic well-being.
"The
problems facing men and boys in the African American community do not
exist in a vacuum. This is America's problem," said Geoffrey Canada,
president and CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone and a board member for
U.S. Programs.
OSI's campaign, which in its first year will
devote $2 million to programmatic development, will support individuals
and organizations working to develop alliances among scholars, social
justice organizations, the arts and culture industry, as well as other
philanthropic endeavors to address black male achievement. The
campaign's first grantees are the Center for Urban Families, for its
innovative Responsible Fatherhood strategy, which connects a strong
direct service program with public policy, and the 21st Century
Foundation, for its Black Men and Boys Initiative.
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