mentor youth, focusing on African American males, through programs that prepare students for college; leveraging athletes as catalysts to inspire leadership. Because athletics is still often viewed as a way to 'move up' economically in our society and because so many of our youth look up to athletes, we seek to develop a collective empowerment of Black male athletes....Then utilize that social and economic power to foster leadership in the objective evaluation of the current challenges facing African American male youth and act as a change agent creating activities and opportunities that encourage these young men to realize their full potential as productive members of their communities and our nation. We believe that we can encourage our youth to be proud of themselves and their heritage, to view education as a valuable goal, and to view helping the community as a worthy aspiration.