Another View to Grow Our Chapter Network
Updated: May 27, 2019
100 Mentoring Movement Part I
I have been a proponent of bringing interest groups together in one place to give them a blueprint for establishing a chapter (the McDonald’s Model), recruitment of members, funding chapter activities, filing for corporate status, filing for IRS 501(c)3 status, development of bylaws, choosing a governance model, researching community demographics, and developing a budget and fundraising plan, among other things we require including the development of a viable mentoring and other Four for the Future programs.
In working on this project, I decided to take it a step further and instead of us waiting for groups to approach us about becoming a part of our network and establishing a chapter, we should identify communities we want a presence and go there to begin the process of establishing a chapter.
We would use demographic data and overlay the information on a map and prioritize communities in need of mentoring support and activism.
The 100 Mentoring Movement is designed to be a proactive rather than reactive approach to chapter growth and development. The 2015 100BMOA Annual Report was titled “Advancing the Journey: Expanding our Reach and Impact.” The 100 Mentoring Movement will indeed allow us to “Expand our Reach and Impact.”
Of the 69 cities with the largest black populations, there are 19 with no 100 presence according to the most recent 100 Chapter Directory. The cities marked in RED are in process.
(If a chapter existed in a city above and is on suspension, we should consider lifting the suspension and allowing them to be rehabilitated by waiving any past due monetary fees. They should be given six months to cure any other deficiencies, and we should work with them to re-establish a presence in the community to continue delivering mentoring services.)
The 100 Mentoring Movement is an initiative of the 100 Black Men of America to establish mentoring communities throughout the country to support young men (and women) of color by fostering a collective effort to provide mentoring services in both group and one to one settings with an emphasis on education, health & wellness, economic empowerment and leadership.
EARNED MEDIA TOUR:
A media tour (a coordinated effort to meet with targeted media contacts across multiple geographical locations), to plant the seeds for news stories about the 100 Mentoring Movement in each city will be needed. Newspaper and broadcast media interviews will be given by the Chairman, Vice Chairman and President (Triumvirate). While the “Triumvirate” will be the primary spokespersons, it is the District Representatives and the Members at Large who will actually do the grunt work of engaging the community on a consistent basis and conducting regional training. This will also more evenly distribute the work.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING:
Networking and community organizing will be an essential tactic for promoting the 100 Mentoring Movement. Contacting clergy, educators, elected officials, community leaders, law enforcement and Greek letter organizations will ensure optimal exposure and community buy-in.
TOWN HALL MEETINGS:
Town Hall meetings should be held on local college campuses, or Municipal facilities. In smaller cities, the Town Hall meetings can be held in churches and high schools if no larger facility is available.
PRESS CONFERENCES:
Press Conferences are an effective way to get media attention and garner community support. Press conferences in conjunction with town hall meetings and earned media tours will build credibility and help create a sense of urgency with a call to action.
PAID MEDIA
There may be some communities where paid media can’t be avoided. We should develop a standard print media ad placement to be used in all print media outlets in cities we target. We should have a radio script voiced by the Chairman. We should have two 30 sec. TV Ads and one 60 sec TV Ad produced. The two 30 sec spots will be before and after an unrelated 60 sec Ad. It’s very effective and allows us get attention and then come back after they are paying attention to give them the kicker.
WEBSITE
The 100 Mentoring Movement should have a link on the 100blackmen.org website. But it should also have its own web address www.100mentoringmovement.com (I have already registered the name, which I will transfer to the organization if the name is adopted) that can take people to the page which describes the 100 Mentoring Movement on our own website. 100blackmen.org/100mentoringmovement. I’m leaning toward a separate web address with a link on the 100blackmen.org site.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
The use of social media is a key tactic and promotional tool locally and nationally. A social media expert will be needed to analyse and target each market and determine the best platform for pushing our message out. We already have some well written material that has been produced over the last few years. The messaging around the “Work of the 100” will be crucial in moving people to action.
BUDGET
A budget will need to be developed based on travel schedules, media, facility rentals, food and other expenses related to this effort.
100 Mentoring Movement Part II
The Second Part of the Plan is to develop a training program for teams from different cities to equip them with the knowledge, skills and resources to efficiently start and effectively sustain a 100 Chapter in their city (the 100 Mentoring Movement Academy).
Whether they approach us or we recruit them, they should all come to Atlanta for a three-day training program (other locations can be considered based on location of teams and ability to deliver content more effectively and cost efficiently in regional locations). Paid full time staff can deliver in Atlanta while District Representatives and Members at Large can deliver content at regional locations.
This will NOT replace the Chapter Development Committee. The CDC will still be responsible for evaluating the interest groups for milestones and benchmarks. Monitoring groups for progress, growth, sustainability, viability of mentoring program and Four for the Future initiatives, conducting visitations, acting as Tip of the Spear and helping to mentor chapter leadership.