R.A.M Enterprises,LLC - Colleges / Egu. institutions ( For Blackmales (MOVERS) )

The current condition that we find Afrikan American males in throughout society is alarming. Their participation in penal institutions is significantly greater than their involvement in educational institutions. Their representation in the mortuaries/cemeteries is high whereas their representation at college graduation is low. This suggests that there is a crisis in American society that needs to be addressed. Crisis means pivotal point of decision. Data on the Black male reveals that we are at a critical point in their full participation in society. A time such as this calls for creative programming to address population. The M.O.V.E.R.S. Program is designed to be an innovative program to facilitate the retention and graduation of Afrikan American males from Colleges and Universities.

The Hawk MOVERS Program is developed for all freshman and first –time males attending the University. The objective of the program is to infuse within the first year males attending a university with a feeling of purpose, identity, and direction. The MOVERS Program does this through the process of didactic and experiential activities that allow freshman males to explore their purpose for attending college, identifying their personal talents and the contribution that they desire to make within society. Additionally, participants are provided with an opportunity to enhance their academic skills through seminars and workbook activities.

Males will attend a 5 to 7 hour initial session and then participate weekly seminars known as SBA (Seba) which is an ancient Kemitic (Egyptian) concept meaning teaching, wisdom and study to discuss various pre-assigned topics, personal essays, and books. Topics about attending college, manhood and self-knowledge will be explored by the participants.

Participants will engage in essay writings, book readings, campus/community development projects and athletic/academic competitions. The first-year males will be divided into teams according to their residence hall (or any other manner designated by their university) for the competitive phase of this experience.

All activities are designed to give the males an opportunity to build self-confidence through experiencing success as group member and activity leaders. Each participant will understand the importance of group work participation and personal accountability. A healthy infusion of what true manhood is will serve as the foundation for this entire experience.

Each weekly seminar will highlight an essay or book that is to be read by the participants. Essay topics include: Why do I choose to attend An HBCU (a college), What is the connection between Manhood and Scholarship and what is boyhood/manhood. Also participant will address some academic issues such as: The College Experience, Note-taking, Planning for Academic Success, Active Reading and Listening and Overcoming Test Anxiety

The facilitators and the consultant will generate questions from the various books that are to be read by the participants. The books chosen have special implications for Black manhood. Once a month the consultant will visit the institution or make contact electronically when feasible for the SBA Seminars. Some additional visits may occur from authors and other prominent men and women.

The participants will select a project to be carried out on their campus of or within their university community. The project is to be revenue generating with part of the proceeds going to the university’s capital campaign or a community social agency. Points will be awarded for the most money raised as well as for the overall impact of the project.

There will be an academic quiz bowl or academic challenge between the various teams. Each group will select their sharpest minds to represent them in this competition. The groups will score points for quiz bowl as well as for the overall GPA of every group member.

Participants are strongly encouraged to make at least one trip to an inspiring event pertaining to manhood. The MOVERS Program consultant will assist with organizing motivational and empowering trips.

Various psychosocial assessments will be utilized to monitor the psychological and academic adjustment of each participant. The progress of each participant will be monitored for at least 6 years or until they graduate or otherwise leave the university. Follow-up contact is to made at various intervals following successful completion of the under graduate program.

The school’s mascot is strongly encouraged to be used within the title of the program to provide the students with a sense of pride within their institutions. The RAM Enterprises consultant will take the mascot and relate it to an ancient knowledge about the high ideals and values that this mascot has historically held. The following is an example of how the hawk mascot of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore was conceptualized in such a manner.

Since time immemorial animals have been greatly admired by humans. This admiration has primarily focused on the physical attributes of animals. The cat was believed to be intuitive, while the dog was believed to be brave and possess great discernment. In Kemit the hawk was revered as a profound animal of great vision. The hawk was able to peer directly into the sun without being blinded while also being able to fly high and see small objects on the ground. Flight towards the sun was significant because the sun was believed to be a physical manifestation of the all powerful, ever present God. Just as the God was able to touch all at one time so was the Sun. It is important to note that the Sun was worshipped as God but rather it was seen as a symbol of God. A symbol is something that is present and represents something greater and more complex than itself.

The hawk was seen as a symbol of Heru, the son of Asar(God). Asar or the God of good, was destroyed by Set, the evil one. Heru was conceived via an immaculate conception by his mother Aset and the seed of Asar for the expressed purpose of avenging the death of Asar. In order for Heru to be successful he needed the spiritual guidance of Asar(God), hence the connection between Heru and the hawk. Heru had to be able look directly as the spiritual enlightenment provided to him by Asar (God) and not be blinded or overwhelmed. Additionally, Heru had to have profound insight to remain attuned to the smallest details of any givens situation.

The relationship between the hawk mascot at the UMES and the Hawk MOVERS Program is further revealed. The program is designed to provide the proper information coupled with the proper guidance to college freshman. It is contended that proper information influences profound action. To fortify someone with correct information is to equip them with the proper tools to demonstrate exemplary behavior. The Hawk MOVERS Program is developed to provide proper vision for ethnically and culturally diverse males.