Black Male Leadership Development Institute

Summer ‘23 BMLDI Summer Institute
Week In Review - Day 7

“Certificate Of Completion”

After a week of storming, forming, norming and preparing for their capstone “If I Ruled The World” group projects, our students presented their unique community problem they identified, along with a plan of action to galvanize support from stakeholders and bring forth real change.

Addressing critical issues from homelessness to youth violence, it became evident that our premise held true. The change we are seeking lies within, and transformational leaders first transform themselves before transcending their circumstances and creating lasting transformation in their communities and environment! In the process, earning a Certificate In Community Leadership from Slippery Rock University. Wow!!!

This is just the beginning as we now turn our attention to the Fall and start of our year-round program with Saturday Symposiums and Men’s Night Out mentorship activity.
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Black Male Leadership Development Institute

Summer ‘23 BMLDI Summer Institute
Week In Review - Day 6

“Bringing Your A+Game”

Our students were in for a treat to close out the week as BMLDI Elder Dr. Tony Mitchell (“Baba Tony”) graced our young men with his presence and “Bringing Your A+Game” curriculum with a focus on decision making and the journey to manhood. Our exploration on critical race consciousness began the afternoon with Dr. Franklyn Charles, from the SRU Department of Communications, with a frank discussion on Media & Self-Image, followed by Dr. Andrew Johnson who led a dinner session on Anti-Racism and youth engagement!
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Black Male Leadership Development Institute

Summer ‘23 BMLDI Summer Institute
Week In Review - Day 5

“Trauma-Informed Leaders Care”

Trauma and healing took center stage for our students on Day 5 as we explored what it means to be dealt a pair of ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences & Adverse Community Environments) and how trauma-informed leaders operate with empathy. We explored PTSD, talked about changing the narrative and tenets of positive psychology.

Our Black Female Leadership Institute (BFLDI) students from the Mt. Ararat Summer Program paid a visit to campus for a “Designing Your Life” session, “Art 4 Healing” and TILES project where our students told their story and learned coping mechanisms through creative expression. Needless to say, LOVE ruled the day!
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Black Male Leadership Development Institute

Summer ‘23 BMLDI Summer Institute
Week In Review - Day 4

“Mayor For The Day”

What happens when the Mayor moves his schedule around to meet with you? That’s exactly what happened after our BMLDI students were recognized in Council Chambers and whisked to the Conference Room to meet with a special guest. In walks Honorable Mayor Ed Gainey who gave our students a motivational discussion before giving them the opportunity to sit in his big chair and experience the feeling of being Mayor for the day! Our immersive experience on civic leadership in the city was capped off by a Pirates victory!!!
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Black Male Leadership Development Institute

Summer ‘23 BMLDI Summer Institute
Week In Review - Day 3

“Pathways To Success”

Day 3 was all about career readiness and career exploration for our BMLDI students. Our day began with Dr. Anthony Jones, Slippery Rock University’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Chief helping our young men to escape the “Man Box” for a more comprehensive definition of manhood. Now free to explore their emotions, feelings and experiences, our instructors taught our students the finer points of unleashing passion and purpose with our “Do What You Love & Love What You Do” session.

In the afternoon, we moved Full STEAM ahead with a visit to the SRU College of Engineering & Sciences Science Lab where Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh CTO Winford Craig greeted our students and exposed them to the many career pathways available through STEAM. Later, our students learned about natural selection in a fun and imaginative way courtesy of the SRU College of Engineering Dean Nicole Dafoe and her amazing team!!!

We finished the day with an elevated challenge as our students conquered their fears and learned the tenets of teamwork and followership at the Ropes Course!

Black Male Leadership Development Institute
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Summer ‘23 BMLDI Summer Institute
Week In Review - Day 2

“Leadership Jazz”

In partnership with Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and its Institute For Nonprofit Leadership, we challenged our BMLDI students to examine their belief system in order to change their circumstances as transformational leaders do and they accepted the challenge. True change in behavior occurs when we change our beliefs and change the narrative about who we are, where we fit and what our purpose in life is.

We played the various instruments in Leadership Jazz, finding harmony and cooperation in understanding the Leadership wheel and how different leadership personalities sound better together once we understand and value each instrument. We laid the foundation for our “If I Ruled The World” Certificate In Community Leadership and our students have begun to identify unique problems confronting their communities they are now empowered to change because they BELIEVE.

Our evening session began with a dinner conversation with SRU Chief Diversity Officer Anthony Jones and Assistant Director Keshia Booker who schooled our students and family cluster group leaders on the finer points of DEI. Urban League CEO Carlos T. Carter then gave our young men the keys to unlocking their greatness beginning with understanding their value. Transformational Leaders transform themselves from within.

What begins as a seed of promise is nurtured over time. The BMLDI program is good soil. We are cultivating greatness, knowing over the decades and generations, each seed will reproduce after its own kind producing the future leaders and world we wish to see. Special thanks to Alice Delvecchio, Dean Dan Bauer and Dr. Matt Zarik for championing this unique partnership and serving up this world-class curriculum!
Black Male Leadership Development Institute
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Summer ‘23 BMLDI Summer Institute
Week In Review - Day 1 (Arrival)

“Let It Burn”

Each year, we bring our young men to the bonfire for a healthy healing ritual where they write something confidentially on a piece of paper that is burdening them, challenging them or holding them back that they simply want to release. Things like anger, resentments, fears, past failures and disappointments. Once we let it burn, the spirit of heaviness always gives way to the garment of praise and gratitude!
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Summer ‘23 BMLDI Summer Institute
Week In Review - Day 1 (Arrival)

“Changing The Atmosphere”

We could not have found a better collegiate partner and environment for our Black Male Leadership Development Institute (BMLDI) program to cultivate the next generation of transformational leaders and changemakers than Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania!

Our 2023-2024 cohort kicked-off with a week long campus residency and intensive leadership practicum rooted in Experiential Learning pedagogy. The natural environment was, literally, a breath of fresh air for our students coming from the city out to Slippery Rock. This is an intentional outcome and benefit of our relationship with SRU.

The study of Epigenetics shows the environment plays a huge role in our cognitive behavior, decisions and how our genes respond, particularly in development stages. This is how PTSD and strongholds form in our cities and principalities rule over our municipalities. It’s in the atmosphere. In much the same way, there is a stronghold of peace and tranquillity here that elicits a different genetic response of healing and nature is essential to restoration and reflection. Our young men need that.

This change in atmosphere would be a central theme as we addressed trauma informed leadership during the week and how we change the narrative, transform ourselves and our communities after being dealt a pair of ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences & Adverse Community Environments).
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Our BMLDI ‘23 cohort ended our final Saturday Symposium of the year on a powerful, redemptive note with a presentation and discussion by Leon Ford who shared his journey to healing and reconciliation along with his formula for self-care surrounding the release of his new book “An Unspeakable Hope.”
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Robert Morris University

For many people across the nation, spring break is officially here.

As you start prepping for your next vacation, remember to take precautions to ensure you remain COVID-19 free.

Info + resources: http://ImAll-In.org.

Took a deeper dive into critical race consciousness during our Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh BMLDI Saturday Symposium this weekend in partnership with Robert Morris University as our students continued their exploration of the “Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism and You!” book and curriculum aligned with our Star Leadership Model. Superb facilitation provided by Dr. Andrew Johnson, along with Dr. Tony Mitchell, Dr. Michael Quigley, Brother Malcolm Thomas and Rev. Erin Patton. Special thanks to New Birth Institute for hosting at the new COhatch Waterfront space, which also provided our cohort with a first-class, immersive experience into the imaginative future of the coworking community!

Unfortunately, the number of deaths related to COVID-19 are still rising. However, getting vaccinated helps to reduce the number of deaths and hospitalizations caused by COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines have saved about 20 million lives worldwide in the first year they were available. It's important to stay up-to-date on your vaccinations.