For over 20 years, the 100 Black Men of South Florida Dr. Harold Guinyard Leadership Academy (DHGLA) has set the standard for mentoring programs in South Florida and 100 Black Men chapters across the nation. Our premier mentoring program is facilitated by top professionals in South Florida who volunteer their time to empower the youth. These men share their wisdom and connections to create experiences that transform young Black men into leaders of their community.
Our “Young Leaders” attend Saturday sessions (twice per month) throughout the school year at the Charles Hadley Park Youth Center in Liberty City. Sessions are structured to incorporate exposure to various careers and professions, education and activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), discussion of current events, and lessons related to each grade level. With an emphasis on creating a comfortable interactive environment, our “male room” sessions are designed to promote conversations on topics such as: self-awareness, personal/family/community responsibility, leadership development, conflict resolution, financial literacy, academic excellence and career development.
Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the program. Throughout the year, our boys are out in the community feeding the homeless, visiting cultural sites, attending shows, conducting service trips, and participating in spring break and summer programs for career exposure. They have been certified in CPR, met and had dialogue with internationally renowned titans of business, industry, civil rights and government.
Throughout the years, the Young Leaders have taken trips to New Orleans, Houston, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Las Vegas, New York City, Detroit and Orlando. The 100 has arranged for tours of Historic Harlem, the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, the World Trade Center, the US Capital, the Hoover Dam, Historic Sweet Auburn Ave., Rosewood, and Black College Tours to Bethune Cookman, Tuskegee, Meharry Medical College, Fisk, Tennessee State, Florida A&M, Edward Waters, Savannah State, Albany State, Morehouse, Spelman, Clark Atlanta, Morehouse Medical and ITC. The Young Leaders also participate in quarterly camping trips with the Sierra Club.
Upon graduation from high school and completion of the program, each Young Leader is eligible to receive an Orange Bowl Committee Albert E. Dotson, Sr. Scholarship in the amount of $4,000 ($1,000/yr. for 4 years) to attend college. Thus, through gifts provided by our membership, corporate sponsors and friends, the 100 Black Men of South Florida has made a major financial investment into the successful matriculation of our Young Leaders.