North Carolina Central University, leads African-American males in academia enrichment through their summer Leadership Academy. The NCCU Academy is reaching out in hopes to drill leadership skills in the minds of young Africa-Americans. The program is dedicated to educate, inspire, direct and derail African-American males from the ages of 14-18 years of age trying to avoid the statistical trap that seals the faith of too many black males today.

Students and faculty leaders at NCCU serve as counselors and mentors in many different subjects matters including leadership and communication skills. Mentors like brother Antonio McPhail, teach students to over come their fears of academic failure through a number of ways including career development, workshops, tutoring and by discussing real-life issues. The academy and mentors like McPhail are single handily trying to make a difference in the lives of many young black males, by giving a hand.

Most educators and academic scholars suggest that many students, college plans can get derailed as early as elementary school. According to some recent college figures black men are becoming increasingly rare on college campuses, even historically black ones. At one HBCU, the ratio of Black women to men is 8-1, some would agree the matter, stating the problem lies in the teaching force and that African-America male students don’t see enough teachers who look like them, citing a 66 percent decline in the number of Black teachers since the 1950s. Well, today, white females make up approximately 83 percent of the country’s teaching force, is the teaching force diverse enough, you do the research.

Extracurricular learning programs, mentors, positive role models, strict parents and programs like this one are what’s needed to make a difference and change. Programs like this help to fixate the stagnant stasis and drive African-American males into more productive and positive positions in life. The academy schools teens on different careers, subjects such as geographic information systems.

Student group leaders Jamaal Brown and Kyle Jeffers, better respect their trials and tribulations as they are preparing to become African-America leaders of the next generation.

According, to some researchers, almost half of the students in special ed. classes are Black, while only 3 percent of blacks are enrolled in gifted classes; parents were do your children stand?

Also, Brandnewz would like to send a Big Thanks to “Phatz” and the Leadership Academy Team for sharing knowledge and some powerful words of encouragement…