Dakar is a Brother’s Keeper Dakar Foundation is innately a Brother’s Keeper program. Since 2008 Dakar Foundation has made providing opportunities for minorities its primary function. We have worked with Civic leaders, educators, entertainers, private industry and the Department of Defense to expose the disenfranchised to careers and skills required to compete in today and tomorrow’s competitive environments. While Dakar has never been expressly a male oriented or male focused organization, we have recognized the need for encouragement and male role models are greatest among the male minority population. To this end, over 80% of the role-models and sustained advocates working in the Dakar consortium are males. Dakar programs are a collection of events over multiple years that cover the gamut of interests from Science, technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. Facilitators of these programs are requested to remain for a minimum of one year to instill familiarity and trust of commitment between the students and the coaches/facilitators. Dakar programs include: School Involvement and advocacy: Partnering with Compton High Schools Science Department to restore and maintain Compton Creek. Led By Dr. Lorenita Holloway and supported by The Compton Unified School District under Mr. Ryan Whetstone, Director of Regional Occupational Program/Career Technical Education, Adult Education. Social Media Week events whereby the topics vary from Digital Citizenship to discussions about growing up needing without means, and the impact making a commitment to our Nation via the military…and the opportunity our military provided and provides young people of color to change themselves and impact the Nation. Men and women, mostly men from around the country have been involved in this program (virtually) including: Retired Lieutenant General Mike Rochelle and retired Brigadier General Arnold Gordon-Bray—who has attended every event and will attend. Education retention: Web Design and media production are cornerstone events of the vision of Dakar. In partnership with Compton Unified School District, Dakar is moving to establish a Digital Media Academy within the district to actively address the focus of many of the disenfranchised youth and build opportunities in front of, behind the cameras and within the technology design of all things media-related. This effort is led by Mr. Kevin Clark, Mr. Terrence Coles, former NASA engineer Mr. Joe Ellis, and Compton High School’s Mr. Juan Reynoso. These are just a few of the programs that Dakar uses to provide an impetus for education as the key to changing the direction of minority male youth in a challenged community. Today these programs are targeting middle school to College age children. The vision and need is to refine our approach and push more of the programs in to elementary school as possible. However, funding for these programs are from sparse coffers and generosity of time. Because we understand the community, Dakar is in the fight to save our youth. We believe we are our Brother’s keeper now!
Web. www.dakarfoundation.org www.homageusa.net