Our society today in the urban population lacks the male structure and understanding needed to truly raise our young men. Single parent families tend to rule our community. In many places around the world, young men are given unto a counsel of men who mold, teach, and train the boys in the things needed in life to be men. At a certain stage in the boys’ life the family brings him and presents him to the counsel of men. He is questioned, counseled, and instructed. From there he begins his journey in which he and other boys go out into the wilderness with the counsel of men. The boys are taught about survival, fear, dedication, honor, pride, humility, honesty, and being men of their word. They are shown how these characteristics are more than words; they are things to stand for and live their lives by. This ceremony will be brought to our young men in the Urban Community to bring forward a new consciousness to who we are as men.

This will be a unique rites of passage program, which will teach young men between the ages of 9 - 25 the skills and knowledge essential for manhood. They speak their truth and believe in their worth based on talents, skills, interests and passions rather than on others opinions, limitations, or belief systems. Traits of survival, fear, joy, dedication, honor, pride, and humility, honesty, and being men of their word as well as a strong bond all come together for those who are willing to discover more about themselves, their power and their possible contributions as men in this world.

In the spring and fall months The Walk of a Man is held in different parts of the city. The boys will be screened before participation in the program. While participating in the program the boys will be expected to endure trials, learn lessons and teach from their own experiences. Training will be difficult but will mold them and break away the chains of limitations and disbelief to bring out their full potential and power. Standing upright, speaking with confidence and pride in who they are as men as well as the legacies they will be leaving around this nation are some of the expectations you will have with the young men who participate.

There will be follow up “renewing the path” that will meet every 2 or 3 months for the young men to fellowship and strengthen the initial bonds that were formed during the rites of passage program.  Summer retreats can be 4 or 5 days and will integrate Civic and Cultural Experiences.  Young men may also return to act as “mentors” for younger men who participate in the future. 

The Walk of a Man will be a private, confidential, and safe place for young men.  We believe it is essential to have a space for young men to develop, share, learn and grow into their full potential.

Some of the module lessons of Walk of a Man include: