MEN OF TOMORROW APPLICATION

 

In the Fall of 1987, Bro. Edwin Wesley encourages several members of Delta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. organizes a team to create its first youth group, which patterns itself after Delta Beta Chapter Youth group in Daytona Beach, FL. 

 

Brother Ronald DeHart of Zeta  Alpha Lambda Chapter, seeking to have an impact on the young men future. A committee forms to construct the tenets for acceptance into the youth organization. Since then, over $100,000 of scholarship monies have been raised. Each senior receives between $1000 and $2500 in funding towards college tuition.

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COMMITTEE: Brothers: Dr. Charles White (Advisor), Jamie D. Wright, Dr. George L. Lockhart, Nigel Spence critically orchestrate the criterion for the first class of Men of Tomorrow.

 

Fall 1988 - The team formally organizes the youth group “Men of Tomorrow” and focuses its attention on young men of African descent and their importance to our society.  The fraternity solicits the assistance of high school counselors, teachers, community leaders, and the Brotherhood to find young men meeting the qualifications set up by the Brotherhood. With the group of men identified, the fraternity embarks upon a mission positively affecting the entire county of Palm Beach.  A mission that includes: Service, scholarship among our youth, and a desire to improve the community.

 

This idea of nurturing a respectable group of young men, consisting of middle and high school students, centers on an annual collection of Men of Tomorrow (MOT) for this program is noble. The MOT program gears toward motivating and mentoring students from underserving communities to continue their education, complete high school, and enter college. Middle and predominantly high school students are involved in interactive workshops and thoughtful group discussions that include but are not limited to:

 

• Tutoring in Core Subjects
• Male Grooming
• FCAT/ACT/SAT Test Preparation
• College Preparation
• College/University Tours
• Financial Aid
• Goal Setting Exercises
• Career Planning
• Interview Preparation
• Time Management
• Financial Responsibility & Management
• Annual MOT Ball with Debutantes
• Youth Step Show Competition (Omega Teens, Kappa League, Sigma Beta Club)

 

In addition to workshops, colleges, and university tours throughout the southeast,  the MOT participants end their prep careers with a sizeable scholarship. The annual scholarship program recognizes and awards MOT outstanding graduating seniors who exhibit noble character, leadership ability, and high scholastic aptitude and achievement. The Men of Tomorrow Program is funded by events such as our annual Golf Tournament and the Black and Gold Scholarship Ball, as well as contributions from generous individuals, organizations, and companies.

 

Mission

“We believe in the creation of inspired lives; produced by the miracles of hard work.  We are not frightened by the challenges of reality but believe we can change our conception of this world and our place within it.  So we work, plan, build, and dream in that order.  We believe that one must earn the right to dream.  Our talent, discipline, and integrity will be our contribution to a new world.  Because we believe that we can take this place, this time, these people and make a better place, a better time, and better people.  With God, we either find a way or make one.”

 

Qualifications

Each young man accepted into the organization must meet the qualifications established by the Brotherhood:

1.  Grade 9-11

2.  GPA (grade point average) 2.5 or higher

3.  Recommendation from counselor, teacher, minister, or chapter brother

4.  Must be of good character

5.  Must have the parental support of the organization

 

During the course of the year, MOT members must participate in monthly church visitations, educational tutorial programs, Project Alpha Youth Symposium, College Prep Workshops, community projects, and social activities (bowling, paintball, professional basketball, and football games) with the brotherhood.  MOT activities are designed to develop the whole person.

 

The MOT’s and their parents also participate in several community services and fundraising activities.  These activities include Paint Your Heart Out, Walk for Babies, Thanksgiving baskets, calendar drive, and barbeque dinner.

 

The Men of Tomorrow are “presented” to the community in a formal, annual “Mr. Debonair Pageant” complete with the regal fanfare worthy of Men of Tomorrow.  During the students’ spring break vacation, they have the opportunity to attend the college fair where they visit various college campuses, speak with admissions officers, attend classes, and get the overall feel of college life.

 

As a continuous project, Delta Delta Lambda endeavors to impress upon the minds of these young men the importance of educational pursuits in order to improve the quality of their lives and the communities in which they reside.

 

MOT graduates include having come back home after college and continue to contribute to society. Our young men serve as Law Enforcement Officers, School Administrators, Legal Counsel, Medical Professionals, and many other capacities.  MOT participants have attended or currently attend universities and colleges including but not limited to:

• • Bethune Cookman University
  • Florida A&M University
  • Florida State University
  • Morehouse College
  • University of Florida
  • University of Notre Dame
  • University of South Florida
  • Tuskegee University