Cultivating generational wealth by expanding business opportunities and financial literacy is one of the seven goals that delegates of the Urban Congress on African American Males in Baton Rouge will focus on to address issues affecting black males and boys.
The urban congress will reconvene on July 28 to look at action items for the goals, which will drive its work as the group moves forward.
The Rev. Raymond Jetson, president of MetroMorphosis, and partners at the Capital Area United Way and the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge unveiled the goals today during a press conference at Baton Rouge Community College. The goals correspond to five areas that the urban congress focused on when it convened on April 16.
“Today we stand believing that we have arrived at a framework which provides us the opportunity to make a difference in our community,” Jetson said.
The other goals are: building upon existing black male leadership skills by focusing on parenting, family, mentoring and community service; broadening access to and the utilization of primary care and mental health services; and expanding the number of black boys entering kindergarten who are ready to read, learn and advance annually.
The Urban Congress also aims to increase high school and college graduation rates for black males; enhance access to and the acquisition of workforce-engagement credentials for black males who lack college degrees; and advance opportunities for success and restoration of full citizenship for black males who have been incarcerated.
Jetson said the goals are not random or arbitrary. The idea is not to create something new, but to build upon the work that has already been taking place in the community and to identify gaps.
MetroMorphosis and its partners say the work of the urban congress will require seven to 10 years. Its mission is to establish long-term, systemic progress toward improving the lives of black men and boys in Baton Rouge.
George Bell, the newly appointed president and CEO of the Capital Area United Way, said the urban congress’ approach dovetails with how the United Way has approached it mission.
—Alexandria Burris
