ALPHA F O R U M School, Go-to-College, Project Alpha and A Voteless People is a Hopeless People) and our Special Projects (Boy Scouts, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Leadership Development Institute, Alpha HeadStart Male Initiative, etc.) are integrated into the implementation plan developed by each chapter for the Sankofa Project. The idea is to use Sankofa as the framework to integrate the delivery of all of die programs and projects provided by Alpha to our communities.
INVOLVEMENT OF A SIGNIFICANT MALE FAMILY MEMBER Every effort is made to include in the project a significant male family member of each of the boys participating in the project. The significant male may be the father (who may or may not be in the home), male guardian (e.g., foster father, grandfather, uncle, etc.), male friend of the family, etc. Care is taken to establish me social dynamics between me male family member, me boy and me mother to avoid any potential problems or issues.
ticularly well equipped to anchor their programmatic implementation under the umbrella of the Sankofa Project. Detailed information is available from me Project Coordinator, Brother ZoUie Stevenson, Jr., Ph.D. The following items are essential elements of Alpha's Sankofa Project for chapters contemplating implemention.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE SANKOFA PROJECT The following items are essential elements of Alpha's Sankofa Project: 1. A preliminary orientation program for mentors, with a strong emphasis on African and African-American history and cultural values, before assignment of youth. 2. A preliminary orientation program for boys and their immediate families, with emphasis on the Sankofa Project's expectations of and for the youth.
RITES OF PASSAGE Historically, our African ancestors have celebrated me passage of dieir children into more responsible roles and adulthood. We have lost this tradition, to some extent, over the past decades. The Sankofa Project incorporates a "Rites of Passage" activity into the project as a means of marking me transition mat a boy has made from his entry into the project up to me point of commencement from the project. This passage is marked by a series of activities mat test the mettle of the young males in relationship to the principles of Nguzu Saba which have been emphasized during me project. Activities marking the commencement pose no threat to the physical or mental well being of the boys. The "Rites of Passage" models incorporate the principles of Nguzu Saba. A token of recognition is provided to each boy as a token of me Sankofa experience and as a reminder ofwhat has been learned and how the learning can be used in the future.
EXPANSION OF THE SANKOFA PROJECT Fraternity chapters across the country have expressed an interest in implementing the Sankofa Project. This interest is encouraged. The Sankofa Project can be implemented using existing funds and resources available within chapters. Chapters implementing the National Programs and some of the Special Projects are par-
3. Mentor's agreement to maintain weekly contact with the boy assigned to him and to personally meet with him at least once every other week. 4. Strong effort to involve an older male member ofthe boy's immediate or extended family as a co-partner of the Alpha mentor. 5. Ongoing communication to the young males concerning the Sankofa Project's expectations of them and recognition and celebration of their accomplishments. 6. Mentor's and co-partner's review of report cards and also visitation with the boys' teachers during "parents' night." 7. Mentors' assistance to male youth in the areas of self-esteem building and educational planning and development as well as career planning and development for older boys. 8. Periodic focus sessions and field trips involving groups of boys and their mentors and co-partners that reinforce the goals of the Sankofa Project.
The SPHINX™ - Fall/Winter 1997