Articles

This is GREAT to see this many people here to join us for the 8th Annual SOAAP Breakfast. Special thanks to Gene Bailey, Bill Hicks and April Janney. I would also like to recognize and thank Cal Stanley, our New Assistant Dean for SOAAP for his willingness to serve and assistance this past year. In 1999 SOAAP, Society of African American Professionals was formulated as an outgrowth of numerous years of African American Boys & Girls Club professionals meeting in hallways, staircases, hotel rooms, and other remote locations to discuss issues of relevance to their careers and profession. Coming out of the San Diego National Conference a decision was made that it was the time and era for us to come forth into the light as dedicated, committed, professionals interested in the betterment of the Boys & Girls Club Movement.

In St. Louis a small group was convened from African Americans from across the country that set the foundation for the Society of African American Professionals.

THE MISSION was concise: "TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINED PARTICIPATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AS SENIOR LEVEL MANAGERS AND EXECUTIVES IN THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB MOVEMENT."

THE VISION was clear; "A SOCIETY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOYS & GIRLS CLUB PROFESSIONALS ORGANIZED TO PROVIDE COUNSEL, ADVICE AND SUPPORT FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS FOR THE GENERAL GOOD OF THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB MOVEMENT. This group, currently referred to as the FOUNDERS, of which many are with us this morning, set 7 objectives which we have made significant progress toward over the past several years.

• ORGANIZE NETWORKING AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS CURRENTLY WORKING AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS. Examples include:
• Evening Reception at the National Conference - (April Janney and Calvester Stanley)
• Receptions and counseling at all of the regional youth development conferences. (Denisha Tate, Darius Stanton, Steve Melton, Trulia Harvey, Domico Curry)
• DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A WEBSITE TO SHARE VITAL INFORMATION.
• SOAAP.ORG was set up in 2002 and annually updated (Bill Hicks & John Miller)
• DEVELOPMENT OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS WITH EMPHASIS ON CHIEF PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS.
• Since 2004 in the Midwest Region Society of African American Professionals Seminars, a series of professional development seminars is delivered in an Afro centric style that addresses preparation for upward mobility. (Dave Smith, Denisha Tate, John Miller, & Andre Arrington)
• OUTREACH TO STUDENTS AT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INTERESTED IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.
• Promotion of opportunities for African Americans to participate in job-fairs and other opportunities to visit Historical Black Universities and Colleges.
• LEVERAGE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICAN ANTIOANL AND REGIONAL EVENTS AND PLATFORMS TO PROMOTE THE MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THE SOCIETY.
• Since 2000 SOAAP Information Booth at the National Conference (Nikki Johnson)
• Since 2000 SOAAP Breakfast at the National Conference (Gene Bailey)
• Since 2005 SOAAP Receptions at Youth Development Conferences.
• INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB MOVEMENT.
• Facilitated the research of African-Americans Contributions to the Boys & Girls Club Movement resulting in the Booklet: The Earlier Years by Dr. Carter Salvage.
• As a result of this research by Dr. Carter Salvage at this year's conference, W.T. Coleman, the first African-American to be employed on National Staff will be inducted in the Wall of Mentors
• W.T. Coleman Fellows Program was established in 2005 to assist in development of information and material to capture the rich history of African Americans in the Movement as well as continuation of the mission of SOAAP.
• HEIGHTEN AWARENESS AND IMPORTANCE OF THE HERMAN S. PRESCOTT AWARD AND OTHER AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
• In 2002 began recognition of outstanding African-American Professionals through the Judith J. Pickens & Lou Dantzler Awards.
• In 2003 established the Robert Hassin Scholarship to help with the cost for professional staff to attend conferences.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD: Inspired by the nearly 40 years of dedication and commitment of Lou Danzler, I would like to announce the Lou Dantzler Boys & Girls Club Legacy that will be our focus over the next several years:

FIRST, the African American Young Male Initiative, at the 2006 Conference in Boston, the Society of African American Professionals adopted a position to TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN IMPROVING THE PLIGHT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES AS IT RELATES TO THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB MOVEMENT.

Meeting was held with our National President, Roxanne Spillet, and we have agreed to move forward collectively on the critical issue. Facilitated by Society of African American Professionals with the active engagement of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (Bob Howard), Greater Kansas City (Dave Smith), Northwest Indiana (Lincoln Ellis), and Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club in St. Louis (Flint Fowler), all organizations headed by African American Male Chief Professional Officers, with assistance from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the African American Male Teen Summit for 100 African American male youth 12 - 18 will be conducted at Chicago State University, June 28 - July 1. After piloting the summit in the Midwest Region it will be rolled out to other parts of the country and eventually leading to a National Summit.

SECONDLY, Professional Development,

• Under the leadership of Dr. Carter Savage we will continue to assemble the data on contributions of African American Professionals in the Movement and expanding our historical display and making it available for both national and regional conferences.
• SOAAP Professional Development Seminar will be expanded to another regional prior to the end of 2007 and eventually be conducted annually in each of the five regions.
• Work to educate and train professionals regarding Lou's philosophy and practices by encouraging his book "A Place to Go, A Place to Grow" be required reading at the Practice of Boys & Girls Club Work as well as Youth Development Conference.
• In honor of Lou Dantzler, secure a notable and exemplary African American professional leader to serve as the administrator of the Society of African American Professionals.

AND FINALLY: Parent Involvement Initiative

• Based on Lou’s philosophy and model, promote and facilitate implementation of this critically needed strategy across the movement through the continued development and distribution of "The Challengers Way: An Guide to Effective Parent Involvement"

We have came a long way from those hallways, staircases, and backrooms, with have seen African Americans achieve key leadership positions in the Movement, yet we know the work has not been completed. I have been occasionally asked, why is their a need for SOAAP?

Recent data compiled by BGCA comparing 2000 data to 2006 data concerning African Americans indicate a 2% increase of African American Board members from 2000 to 2006 (12% to 14%, 3,670 to 4,242) While African Americans filling part-time positions in the Movement staff fairly consistent at 35% (7793 to 12,340), African Americans serving as full-time professionals decreased by 4% (32% to 28%, 3,639 to 3,905).

I am sure with your engagement; we will reach our goal, "recruitment, retention, and upward mobility for African American professionals and pave the way for future generations to reach new heights.