Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for your support.

Steps to Manhood Mentoring Program & The Tuskegee Airmen

We would like to thank the Tuskegee Airmen, Chicago DoDo Chapter, for encouraging our youth to excel.

CORPUS CHRISTI CONCERT

CORPUS CHRISTI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
7819 S. Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IL 60619





For Immediate Release Contact: Cammie Bridges
312.388.2560



Chicago, IL (October 12, 2010) - The Corpus Christi Alumni Association and State Farm proudly present its annual Hales Franciscan High School Fundraiser featuring a Merri Dee Birthday Celebration.



Sunday, October 24, 2010

DuSable Museum – 740 E. 56th Place - Chicago

4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.



Corpus Christi Alumni Association is a 501(c)3 organization formed to help support the predominately African American male High School (Hales Franciscan). Hales Franciscan High School is one of Chicago’s leading all-male preparatory high schools located on the Southside of Chicago. Nearly 100% of the African American Hales Franciscan High School male graduates are sought after by prestigious colleges and universities nationwide.



This will be an exceptional fundraiser/birthday event to include a reception, program, silent auction and concert by TreDiva (classical and operatic sopranos). The cost for this fundraiser is $50.00.



This is one way for us to highlight and support the bright, intelligent male youth in Chicago.



Thank you for supporting a quality education.

Steps to Manhood Mentoring Program

Our program was developed to assist our boys in the transition to manhood. Why? Because..."It is easier to build strong children than to repair a broken man."

The South Shore Summer Jam

Saturday, August 7, 2010
11am-6pm @ Rainbow Beach
(3111 E. 77th Street)
Featuring a Full Day of Activities
A Community Softball Game
Fashion Contest
Live Performances
Car Show
Basketball
Jumping Gym
And More...

Stand up to violence

Chicago Tribune
Editorial
Stand Up To Violence

It's a sad thing, but Chicago weekends are a time for fear in some neighborhoods.

Hot weather sends people outdoors for grilling, patio parties and going to the beach. But it also brings out the worst in us. Last weekend, at least 29 people were shot in Chicago. The weekend before that, 54 were shot. Several victims died.

Chicago, as it heads into an extended weekend, grapples with how to respond. The City Council and the mayor are moving new gun regulations in response to the Supreme Court decision that undermined the city's long-standing ban on handguns. On the streets, people protest the violence and pray for peace.

Last weekend, some 3,000 Chicagoans organized a public prayer that spanned 10 blocks on 79th Street, from Dobson Avenue to the Dan Ryan Expressway. New Life Covenant Church officials put it together. Mayor Richard Daley joined them. It was an impressive and inspiring event. But then it was over. And the killings went on.

Police have a job to do. But so do the people. They need to do it week in and week out. It would have quite an impact if, this weekend, 3,000 people marched into the offices of community groups and signed up to mentor young people, who are often the perpetrators and the targets of violence.

Mentorship is a critical piece of many anti-violence initiatives, from the Roseland-based Kids Off the Block to the nationally known Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Adults who volunteer their time and knowledge to help kids make a world of difference. Case in point: mentoring was an enormous factor in the success of the first graduating class of the Urban Prep Academy for Young Men. Every graduate has been accepted to college.

Yet community activists tell us the spike in Chicago violence has not led to a spike in volunteers to fill much-needed mentoring positions.

Mentors are especially critical in the summer, when organized activities are few and far between for at-risk youths, said Phillip Jackson, founder and executive director of the Bronzeville-based Black Star Project. Anti-violence programs need many more volunteers than they have available.

"On any given Saturday or Friday night, you might see 2,000 or 3,000 people in the streets praying," Jackson said. "But where is the positive, direct action that could make a difference in our communities?

"We wish we had one volunteer to mentor each of the girls and boys in our program," Jackson said. "As it stands, we only have one volunteer for every 100 children. The little boys in particular need these male mentorship figures, and we can't currently meet that demand."
It is often difficult to find men willing to participate.

Whitney Young Dolphins Making a Difference, a budding mentorship and tutoring group started by Whitney Young High School alumni, has had some early success at this. Nine men and 11 women served as mentors for West Pullman Elementary School students this year. Leaders hope at least 150 men and women join by this time next year.

"We just started and we can do what we need to now," said Bronzeville attorney Keisha Hooks. "But already, the little boys line up early, just waiting for mentors. They know they need the help. They really do."

Of course, an entire army of volunteers, no matter how well-intentioned, can't circumvent all of the issues that contribute to community violence. Chicago needs jobs and better education and strong block organizations and public cooperation with the police.

You may not be able to turn around tomorrow and create a job or a school or stop a crime. But you can step up and help a child, be a mentor.

Baseball & Steps to Manhood Mentoring

Double Duty Classic

The Chicago White Sox will host the 3rd annual Double Duty Classic June 30, 2010 - an event celebrating the history and tradition of Negro Leagues baseball in Chicago and promoting the next generation of inner-city baseball players. This summer marks the 77th anniversary of the first East-West All-Star Game, which was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Elite inner-city high school baseball players from across the country will participate in an All-Star game at U.S. Cellular Field on June 30, 2010, where they will dress in uniforms honoring the Negro Leagues' East-West All-Star Game. An invitation only forum will precede the game and feature a roster of speakers and prominent members of the baseball community.

Details for the Double Duty Classic:

• FREE Admission - Game Time 1:05 P.M.
• Complimentary Parking is Available in LOT B (North of 35th Street)
• Gates Open at 12:00 P.M.
• Live Music and Entertainment at Gate 5 Beginning at 11:30 A.M.
• For More Information, Please Call 312-674-1000

Support Hales Franciscan High School

Hales In The Swing (HiTs)for Education

and Scholarships Annual Golf Outing

Sponsored by the Hales Franciscan Alumni Association

Thursday September 16, 2010

George Dunn Golf Course

16310 S. Central Ave

Oak Forest, IL 60452

Since it’s founding, Hales Franciscan High School has celebrated African-American heritage and endeavored to instill cultural pride. The school continues to be the only historically African-American, all-male, Catholic college preparatory school in the state of Illinois and one of three such institutions in the nation. The School is a not-for-profit independent school, fully accredited by the North Central Association and certified by the Illinois State Board of Education. Hales Franciscan was established to carry on the mission of educating young, African-American males at a time when there were few opportunities for them to receive a quality, private education. Hales is dedicated to imparting Christian values in the Catholic and Franciscan traditions. Consequently, the school is committed to instilling moral, and ethical ideals while helping students fulfill their academic potential in a safe, disciplined and nurturing environment.

Steps to Manhood Mentoring

April 15, 2010

Harlem Globetrotters

at

United Center

Steps to Manhood Mentoring

We use the following attributes to help our boys become men:

A Well-Rounded Man
A Man of Good Repute
Morally Pure
Balanced in Words and Actions
Wise and Humble
Good Role Model
Unselfish and Generous

Communicates Sensitively
Not Addicted to Substances
Not Self-Centered and Controlling
Void of Anger that becomes Sinful
Not Abusive
Sensitive, Loving and Kind
Non-argumentative and non-divisive

Non-materialistic
A Good Husband and Father
Pursues Godly Activities
Wise, Discerning, non-prejudiced and fair
Holy, devoted to God
Disciplined

Steps to Manhood Mentoring Program

We have mentors working with the following institutions:

• Christ Bible Church of Chicago

• Lincoln's Challenge Academy Rantoul, IL

• Fermi Elementary School Chicago, IL

• Hales Franciscan High School Chicago, IL
  

Thank you for showing your support

My hope in 2010 is that you'll each take these three steps:

1. email someone you know and encourage them to visit http://crnterforcommunitydevelopment.blogspot.com/
to read the blogs and see what we do.
2. encourage someone you know to make a donation.
3. make a donation of $10 or more to show your own support for the cause. Donations can be made on Facebook, or at http://www.cfcdevelopment.com/

Thank you to everyone who has helped as a volunteer, donors, or student member. If you do one or all of these steps, we'll triple the size of the group by Dec. 30, 2010, and we'll build more financial strength in the work we do.

Thank you all for your help. I wish you all a healthy, happy, 2010.

James E. Warren
President
Center for Community Development, NFP