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The
African American Male Transition Program
The African
American Male Transition Program (AAMTP) is a group-mentoring
program employed by The Mentoring Center (TMC) since 1994 in the
California Youth Authority (CYA). The AAMTP serves groups of 25
to 35 youth, ages 15-25, during the 24-week sessions. Upon their
release from CYA, TMC continues to serve those who have
graduated from our program; helping them find housing,
employment, and further their education.
The AAMTP
curriculum addresses aspects of the personal, social and
psychological state of the African American male experience and
condition. TMC’s transition program curriculum consists of
eight foci or topics, which are:
1) Why Do We Act the Way We Act
2) Who Are We Really: The Foundation of Human Culture, Conduct
& Purpose
3) Life’s Developmental Process: Manhood, Responsibility,
Perseverance
4) African & African American History and Cultural Precepts
5) The World of Work and Personal Industry
6) Character Development and Life’s Purpose
7) Transitioning Back Into Society
8) Practical Application
This curriculum
is designed to simultaneously inspire the youth’s “limitless
potential” and to guide their participation in their own and
their community’s “collective well-being.” The youth’s
developmental transitioning process consists of four stages or
phases. In the Recognition phase, through cognitive
restructuring and cultural realignment, the young people are
able to see their own natural goodness. In the Declaration
phase, again, through cognitive restructuring and cultural
realignment, the young person announces to the objective world
their new character. The Activation phase signifies the
conscious attempt by the young person to think and behave in
ways that are consistent with their new meaning. The final phase
is the Realization phase, here the young person engages in
self-reflection and is able to determine that they are in deed
as they claim themselves to be. They have concrete evidence for
verifying their own new meaning.
This mentoring
model, its curriculum, and program services have proved
successful in effectively addressing our core goals of reducing
violence and recidivism and; helping youth who come from
troubled backgrounds to discover and develop their limitless
potential. |
