The 100

100 KINGS Program

*KINGS at the 15th Anniversary Celebration, 2006

Photo Courtesy of Vando Rogers

Since 1991, 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee (The 100) has worked to counter the negative statistics by giving Black, male youth the foundation of knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to become significant community contributors. There are three major human investment principles that have guided our efforts:

Long-term commitment to a young man's holistic development increases his confidence and his expectations
Quality education coupled with targeted community exposures enables a young man to maximize his talents.
Significant member-led financial support provides a concerned and focused volunteer network

THE VISION – 100 KINGS

Long-term success in America requires a strong blend of knowledge, skills and confidence. American youth demonstrate how well they have developed in these areas through their behavior and their academic performance in school. Therefore, The 100 has created a seven-year leadership development program designed to help 100 5th-grade, Black, male youth develop the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to succeed in school and to succeed in life. The new program is called “100 KINGS!”

Accordingly, the goal of the 100 KINGS program is that by 12th grade graduation in May 2010, these 5th graders will:

Category	8th	10th	12th
Category	Grade	Grade	Grade
Achieve 3.5 Cum. GPA and above	20%	25%	27%
Achieve 3.0 Cum. GPA and above	30%	35%	40%
Achieve 2.5 Cum. GPA and above	60%	80%	100%
Accepted Into a 4-Year College	NA	NA	80%

Considering our belief in long-term commitment, the 100 KINGS Program is designed to maintain a group of 100 students - all at the same grade level - during the entire seven-year process.

Per our discussions with the Director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, principals, teachers and guidance counselors from 30 of the areas middle schools, students were recommended to participate in the program. Students who were not selected for the original group of 100 are maintained in an "alternates" database. In the event of attrition, we select from the alternate list to maintain a group at the same grade level.

The criteria for entrance into the 100 KINGS Program was clear. Middle school educators were asked to identify African American male 5 th graders to:

Attend school regularly
Exhibit great potential for personal, academic and career success
Exhibit a desire to leverage support they receive
Appear to be ideal for mentor-based development

Program Components

In an effort to help the students develop their knowledge, skills and confidence, the program addresses three major human development areas: Personal Growth, Academic Enrichment and Career Preparation. Our Personal Growth curriculum helps students develop a clear sense of identity and a life vision that guides their decision-making. Our Academic Enrichment curriculum helps students place special emphasis on critical thinking and reading comprehension - two areas that are commonly underdeveloped among African American youth. Our Career Preparation curriculum prepares students to view and build their careers as a combination of jobs, businesses and volunteer activities that maximize their talents and gifts.

Curriculum Overview

Personal Growth

Self-Respect and Values Clarification

Positive Response Behavior

Role Modeling

Nutrition and Physical Health

Etiquette and Social Exposure

Academic Enrichment

Study Skills

Reading Comprehension

Critical Thinking

Test Taking

Tutoring

Vocational Preparation

Peer Counseling

College Preparation

Career Selection

Financial Management

Community Service

Program Delivery

Programs are delivered through group training sessions and small-group mentoring sessions conducted by local educators, 100 Black Men members and community members. Training sessions are held two Saturdays per month during the school year and for six consecutive weeks during the summer. Training sessions are held at Belmont University to help the students establish an expectation for attending college.

100 Black Men Standards for Success

The students who participate in 100 Kings meet several standards for success in the areas of attitude, attendance and attire. Adherence to these standards prepares them for long-term success.

ATTITUDE

I will maintain appropriate behavior standards in school and in sessions
I will treat others with respect at all times
I will not bring walkmans, radios, etc. to sessions
I will not use profanity during sessions

ATTENDANCE

I will maintain 90% attendance

Note: Activities not counted as an absence:

Funeral with note from parent
Doctor’s appointment with note from parent
Youth development activity (deemed appropriate by Director)
I will provide advance notice of absences by writing or calling the Director
I will arrive 10 minutes early for all sessions

ATTIRE

I will wear appropriate attire to 100 KINGS Training Sessions

Partners for Progress

Collaboration is the central most effective tool to expand a non-profit's outreach and impact. With that in mind, The 100 has established partnerships with a variety of non-profit organizations in an effort to expose students to various educational, entertainment and community-building activities. Below is a list of the 100 KINGS Program Partners.

Program Partners	Concept	Results
Cheekwood	100 KINGS Days At Cheekwood Students learn to appreciate and interpret various works of art. Students learn to conduct tours of various Cheekwood exhibits	Students build interpersonal, communication and public speaking skills. Students gain an appreciation that will serve as a tool throughout their lives
Adventure Science Center	100 KINGS Days At Adventure Science Center Students learn the core components of ASC exhibits Students learn to conduct ASC tours.	Students build strong foundation in science-related topics. Students develop leadership skills.Students inspire younger boys to pursue science.
The Tennessee Golf Association	100 KINGS First Tee Students learn the fundamentals of golf	Student gain a deeper appreciation for the game of golf Students learn the value of sportsmanship. Students learn the importance of courtesy and sport etiquette.
Nashville Election Commission	100 KINGS Voices for Voting Students develop and run voter registration campaigns.	Students learn the value of voting. Students develop organization skills. Students positively impact their community.
The Frist Center for Visual Arts	100 KINGS Days at the Frist Center Students learn the operational and business aspects of an art center/museum	Students become trained museum docents. Students enhance public speaking and interaction skills. Students gain valuable knowledge for the arts.
Nashville Symphony	100 KINGS and the Symphony Students learn the structure, flow and goals of a symphony orchestra	Students learn the importance of long-term vision. Students learn the value of hard work. Students learn the keys to organization and planning.
Nashville Public Library	100 KINGS Days At the Library Students learn the daily activities of a public library and its staff.	Students gain a deeper appreciation for books and reading. Students discover functions of a library other than the housing of books.