The L.A.M.P. Mentor Program promotes leadership, volunteerism, community service, civic involvement, and decision-making skills in African American young men
The weekend agenda is different for the young participants of the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program.
Instead of sleeping in or doing on-line gaming or heading outside for basketball, the teens don suits, ties and business attire for a fun learning session sponsored by the Gamma Zeta Boule Foundation (GZBF).
During the latest session, the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program hosted its Annual Alumni Reunion. According to Nathaniel S. Reddicks, GZBF media and public relations chair, the gathering allows participants to interact and ask questions of young men who completed the program.
“Program graduates come back to share with current mentees about the ‘real world’ of career, college, grad-school or whatever else they have gotten themselves into since leaving high school,” explained Reddicks.
“The schedule includes a light breakfast and introductions of the mentor leadership team, the Gamma Zeta Boule Foundation Board of Directors, the supporting Parents Auxiliary Council, and other guests,” he said. “Next, Ramsey Jay, GZBF president, does his usual ice breaker and talks about self-motivating, maintaining our personal commitment to maximum effort and our multi-level accountability.”
Describing the session, Jay said, “This annual gathering is evidence of the power of L.A.M.P.’s peer to peer empowerment of technology in action.”
Another portion of the agenda contained the alumni panel. Graduates responded to questions from mentees such as “What was your favorite L.A.M.P. experience? Mock interviews? Field trips? Going to the theater?” Alumni panel members also talked about their college experience.
London Wright, L.A.M.P. class of 2021, recalled how he had to take time to talk through some serious prompts to grow as a writer. Nicholas Richard Craven, L.A.M.P. class of 2020, advised mentees to “meet with your professors and make it a point to see them and discuss class topics during office hours.”
Dylan Wilson, L.A.M.P. class of 2021, encouraged talking with professors, “especially if you are having some struggles with the course work.” He also asked the mentees, “Are you going to college because you want to or because your parents have said you are going to? We all need to think about this.”
Urging the group to start working towards their future, Wilson added, “Do not just plan a goal, start making movement towards your goals . . . now! Do something towards achieving them today.”
In addition, Blair Imani, author of “Read This to Get Smarter,” gave a presentation about her recently published book, which covers the importance of attaining independent thought and working within the system to make effective changes.
As part of their community service activities, the mentees donated unwrapped gifts for families in need. The contributions were handed over to the Toys for Tots charity to distribute to children in underserved neighborhoods.
Reddicks noted that L.A.M.P. partnered with Mine O’ Mine Holdings, a nonprofit of former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, to assist with fulfilling the organization’s mission of developing the next generation. Mine O’ Mine and J.C. Penny also sponsored blazers for the mentees.
A spokeswoman from Mine O’ Mine Holdings stated, “Shaquille O’Neal’s mission is to motivate, support and assist young people to reach their full potential. The L.A.M.P Mentor Program and the rigorous life skills the workshops provided to the Mentees are aligned with Mr. O’Neal’s focus on the next generation. It is his pleasure to support such an endeavor with the sponsorship of uniform blazers that will identify these extraordinary young men as L.A.M.P. Mentees. He looks forward to seeing these leaders of tomorrow as they represent this Program and their communities”.
Gamma Zeta Boule Foundation welcomes community support of its efforts and contributions to its programs. To learn more, visit www.gzbfoundation.org or contact Gilbert Holmes, program coordinator, at [email protected].
