Experience, Youth Unite In New 100 Black Men Chapter
JANUARY 17, 2023
By GREGORY ZELLER //A national civic organization committed to educating and empowering African American children has a new Long Island chapter – and a well-established captain at the helm.
Membersonly:(Fromleft)100BlackMenofAmericaChairmanThomasDortch,100Black MenofEasternNewYorkChapterPresidentPhilAndrewsandVillageofWestburyTrustee WilliamWisecelebratethelaunchoftheEasternNewYorkchapter.
Georgia-based 100 Black Men of America in December granted charter membership to 100 Black Men of Eastern New York, which incorporated in 2021. The charter codifies the local chapter’s mission to promote education, health and wellness, mentoring, economic independence and community leadership among regional African American youth.
That localized mission is already off to a strong start under the guiding hand of 100 Black Men of Eastern New York Founding President Phil Andrews, a well-known Long Island civic leader a champion of minority-owned businesses.
Not to be confused with One Hundred Black Men of Long Island – an independent organization that last year resigned its membership in 100 Black Men of America – the 13-month-old Eastern New York chapter has established itself as a mentoring hub for African American students through affiliations with regional school districts and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, among other organizations.
PhilAndrews:Reputationprecedeshim.
“The crown jewel is mentoring,” Andrews noted. “We also focus on health and wellness, education and economic empowerment, but mentoring is the primary focus,
and we have a history of working with school districts on Long Island and with Big Brothers Big Sisters … so we will look to build on that.”
Andrews is directing the chapter alongside founding Board of Directors members John Nedd, a Nassau County Police Department detective and parliamentarian of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives New York Chapter, and Desmond Horsham-Brathwaite, a young IT professional.
Although his seasoned co-directors boast a little more experience, Horsham-Brathwaite brings a critical element to the table, according to Andrews.
“We wanted to bring in a younger person to reach out to the next generation,” the chapter president told Innovate Long Island. “We want to start earlier … a big part of our mission is to mentor across [a person’s] entire lifetime.”
With its leadership set and 100 Black Men of America adding extra clout – the 501(c)3 organization is a recognized national leader of African American mentoring – 100 Black Men of Eastern New York is in full-on expansion mode.
Andrews said Job. No. 1 will be growth through “hybrid programming,” a mixture of inperson and virtual events that will help the chapter “deliver more services through innovation [and] help more people learn the mission of this chapter.”
DoasIdo:Professionalmentoringisthecornerstoneof100BlackMenofAmericaandits EasternNewYorkChapter.
“People like [virtual events],” the president added. “They save time and allow people to actually do more, with access to a greater number of programs.
“It’s the way the world is now and we have to keep up with the times.”
The Eastern New York group will also be “looking toward recruitment” of new, more professionally diverse mentors, according to its president, who will serve at least one three-year term establishing the new nonprofit chapter.
And it won’t waste a single moment along the way, noted Andrews.
“The first 90 days are critical, just like a (U.S.) President,” he said. “The first 90 days are when you catch early wins, and it’s important that we get off the ground quickly.
Fortunately, his résumé – Andrews is president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, founder of the African American Small Business Foundation and frequent commentator on regional news broadcasts, among other high-profile gigs – provides a significant advantage.
“I’m an experienced leader,” he added. “The people in these communities know me, and with an institution like this, it helps to be a recognized leader.”
TOPICS:100 Black Men Of America 100 Black Men Of Eastern New York African American Small Business Foundation Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Long Island Desmond Horsham-Brathwaite John Nedd Lead Long Island African American Chamber Of Commerce Mentoring Nassau County Police Department National Organization Of Black Law Enforcement Executives Phil Andrews