Two decades ago, Frederica Wilson established the organization that would become 5000 Role Models of Excellence, a mentorship program for at-risk youth in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Legislation has recently been introduced that would expand this program, as well as other programs like it.

"Advocates for the dropout intervention strategies say they envision Role Models someday taking root in every county, and possibly every school, in the state. The idea is to match at-risk minority youth with successful black men in school-based programs. The goal is to reduce the number of African-American youths who drop out of school and enter prison."

If passed, the legislation would create a state-sanctioned method of funneling both private and public money into Role Models and other similar programs. Source: Miami-Dade Sun-Sentinel

Labels: influences, mentoring, role_models