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I am so mad I missed the conversation about mentoring black boys because I had a lot to fucking say!!!
Aight so. Just a tiny bit of background on myself before I start running my mouth. I’m a job hopper and my interests are all over the place LMFAO. But my background is in non-profits. I’ve worked for non-profits (both paid and unpaid) for years, youth organizations specifically
I’ve been a volunteer manager for a local non-profit. A program manager for a well known youth organization. Then I volunteered for other orgs around Chicago. Chile. It was HARD trying to recruit men volunteers and mentors
I tried to recruit on social media. Through email. At schools. I even set up a damn booth @ Lollapalooza lmfao. But still, only women were showing up
Trying to staff men was even harder. When I was a program manager, I ran a safe space for the girls where we’d meet once a week for girl talk. Puberty, friends, transitioning from grade school to high school, etc. etc. etc. Tried to do the same for the boys. Had no man to run it
We had boys in our program (3rd-8th grade) asking for men. We had 3 men staffed at 3 different times. One was well liked but he graduated and moved away. The second wasn’t friendly and didn’t care to build bonds. The third? WHEW CHILE. It was a whole scandal behind him
I’d also run homework help and lil weekend things. Both once a week and would need volunteers. Again, only women would show up. Once in a while, men would come but they’d either be unengaged or they’d come 1 time and wouldn’t return
(let me also add that I worked in black low income areas)
I read all the tweets and saw folks trying to go in on @KolorsofKeish but my job was literally staffing youth programs and recruiting volunteers and mentors. Black men were not showing up
If I could add something else, I just wanted to say why I personally think it’s more difficult to find black men to volunteer/mentor our young boys from low income areas
1. They don’t know how to find programs and organizations. But I’m not 100% behind that one because Google, you can google “volunteer in *your city* or use your network to find opportunities!
2. They’re simply not interested in long term opportunities. Like I said earlier, volunteering and mentoring are long term. You’re getting know and bonding with a young person. If you want to just volunteer and hang out with a kid for the day, go paint a park bench or something
3. Like @KolorsofKeish said and whether we want to admit it or not, folks want to work with the boys who are already “stars.” They come from decent backgrounds, they’re smart, they play sports. Maybe they find them easier to mentor than the kids who need extra help, who knows?
And I ADORE kids from low income areas, they were my absolute favorite to work with. They’re smart, funny, resourceful as hell (kids from the hood be putting some shit together ok lol) and they’ll absolutely open up once they get to know you and know you’re there long term
But moral of the story, Keish was not wrong. Black men weren’t showing up and showing up consistently for our black boys like women did. And those boys would love to see men in their 20’s and early 30’s, especially the boys who don’t have male figures in their lives
Before I go for good because I know y’all tired of me lol, iMentor could be a great place to start if you’re interested in mentoring. I had a friend who mentored through them, she (see what we mean? 
) loved it. I know they’re in Chicago and Bay Area for sure
) loved it. I know they’re in Chicago and Bay Area for sure
