Black Star Project Joins Open Society Institute's Campaign for Black Male Achievement

The Black Star Project Joins Open Society Institute's Campaign for Black Male Achievement   Focus will be on the Million Father March and recruiting Black men as tutors and mentors in the lives of young Black males     Chicago, January 22, 2009-The Black Star Project will receive $50,000 from the Open Society Institute to support the Million Father March and a school-based rogram that engages Black men as mentors and tutors in the Chicago Public School System. The grant was awarded through OSI's Campaign for Black Male Achievement, a three-year grantmaking initiative to address, and help reverse, the ways in which African American boys and men are stigmatized, criminalized and excluded from the U.S. economic and political mainstream.   Even as Americans elected their first Black president, the end of 2008 saw an onslaught of dire reports on the educational, social and economic outcomes for Black males in America. Sky-high dropout rates for high-school students, an out-of-control murder rate for 14- to 17-year olds and a 72 percent unemployment rate for high-school dropouts paint a bleak forecast for young Black men.   The Black Star Project has joined with the Open Society Institute's Campaign for Black Male Achievement to address these issues.  With the support of the Campaign, Black Star will expand its successful Million Father March and also launch an initiative that uses school-based strategies to recruit Black male tutors and mentors.  Research by the National Fatherhood Initiative shows that children, male and female, perform better in school, at home and in life when their fathers take an active and positive role in their lives.  Additionally, Black male tutors and mentors provide measurable guidance for Black boys and young Black males in America.   "Black Star's combined strategy of national advocacy to increase fathers' participating in their children's education and local recruitment of male tutors will have a positive impact on young Black male students and their fathers," said Shawn Dove, manager of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement. "The Open Society Institute is proud to support The Black Star Project's efforts to improve life outcomes for Black boys and men."   Black Star Project programs include the Million Father March, which in 2008 occurred in 475 cities with 600,000 men taking their children back to school on the first day; the Fathers Club, where Black men and their children enhance bonds around educational, recreational and sporting venues and events; the Men in Schools Program, where men serve in schools as mentors, tutors, reading coaches, chaperones, hall guards, lunch-room monitors and playground supervisors, as well as board members; and Take a Black Male to Worship Day, where members of churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and other faith bodies invite young Black males into their worship services.   To learn more about the Open Society Institute's Campaign for Black Male Achievement please click on http://www.soros.org/initiatives/usprograms/focus/cbma.     Phillip Jackson is the founder and executive director of The Black Star Project in Chicago, Illinois. For more information about its work to educate and save a generation of young Black men, please call 773.285.9600, email blackstar1000@ameritech.net or visit www.blackstarproject.org.       Studies show...fathers  matter significantly!         63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census)  90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes (Source: Center for Disease Control) 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes (Source: Criminal Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26, 1978.)  71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes (Source: National Principals Report on the State of High Schools ) 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes (Source: Rainbows for all God`s Children.) 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Special Report, Sept 1988) 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home (Source: Fulton Co. Georgia jail populations, Texas Dept. of Corrections 1992) These statistics show that children from a fatherless home are:   5 times more likely to commit suicide 32 times more likely to run away 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders Boys are 14 times more likely to commit rape 9 times more likely to drop out of high school 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances 9 times more likely to end up in a state-operated institution 20 times more like to end up in prison Fatherlessness is the single most important sociological issue of our day.  So how do we reverse the trend? All Pro Dad hopes to be a part of the solution. Click on Http://www.allprodad.com/ and find out more about us and how you can help be part of the answer.   Join The Black Star Project's  Fathers Club at the Museum of Science and Industry     Calling All Fathers, Stepfathers, Foster Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles, Brothers, Godfathers, Cousins, Mentors and other Male Caregivers! Join us at The Museum of Science and Industry     on    Saturday, January 31, 2009 10:00 am - 3:00 pm - FREE   at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois   Bring as many children as you can--grandchildren, nieces and nephews, younger siblings, or other children to this and future bi-monthly Fathers Club events as you can!  Female caregivers and individuals of all races are welcome to participate. To receive FREE admission to the Museum of Science and Industry, please confirm your attendance to this event by calling Bruce at 773.285.9600.  Black Star attendees will be admitted between 10:00 am and 11:30 am.   For more information on becoming a member of The Black Star Project and its Fathers Club, please call Bruce Walker or visit www.blackstarproject.org.    ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE. YOU MUST RSVP TO ATTEND THIS EVENT BY THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2009. The indoor, underground parking cost is $16.00 per vehicle.  You can also use public transportation to get to the museum.   Phillip Jackson, executive director of The Black Star Project, will keynote the Illinois Women in Educational Leadership for Diversity Conference   Friday-Saturday, January 30-31, 2009 Bradley University - Robert H. Michel Student Center - Peoria, Illinois     With this conference we plan to promote a statewide dialogue about best leadership practices to enhance academic learning in diverse environments. We seek to understand policy implications at the local, state and national levels that affect all stakeholders in diverse settings. And we hope that from this dialogue will emerge effective leadership practices to build inclusive learning communities where diversity is valued, respected and promoted.   Click here to view the full flyer         Email Marketing by The Black Star Project | 3473 South King Drive, Box 464 | Chicago | IL | 60616