The Mission of the BLACK LEADERS AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM (B.L.A.M.P.) is to prepare African American young adults to be role models for youth in the African American community. As the coordinator, Prof. Janet Stickmon facilitates workshops designed to foster leadership and mentorship skills amongst African American men and women 18-35 years old.
Participants will be equipped with a variety of skills during the workshops offered by the BLACK LEADERS AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM (B.L.A.M.P.). Among the workshop themes will be the following:
- Self-care
- Time management
- Organizational skills
- Public speaking
- Networking
- Workshop facilitation
- African American Studies curriculum development and instruction
The first workshop series is entitled, “Journey from Self-Acceptance to Love of Community.” During these workshops, participants will learn how acceptance and love of self is the foundation for building healthy, enduring relationships within the African American community. They will engage in reflective and meditative exercises to deepen their ability to love and accept all aspects of themselves, gain clarity about their values and goals, and decide how to share their gifts and talents with others.
The Black Leaders and Mentorship Program (B.L.A.M.P.) offers a vital source of hope for the African American community in Napa and Solano counties. African American students have been emotionally impacted by the state-sanctioned police violence against African American men and women over the last decade—but particularly over the last six years. This continuous, frightening level of unapologetic disregard for and disrespect of the Black body and spirit is one of several blatant reminders that white supremacy and the demonization of African Americans are alive and well in this country. The ultimate message we receive is that our lives are worthless.
B.L.A.M.P. is deeply concerned about how African American youth and young adults perceive their self-worth in the current social climate, especially considering the massacre in Charleston, SC and the burning of Black churches in the past year. Our program seeks to equip young leaders with the tools to combat that message of worthlessness by preserving and nurturing the beautiful gifts and talents that we as African American people possess and can share with the world. The Black Leaders and Mentorship Program (B.L.A.M.P.) will develop a sense of resilience, confidence, and pride within the African American community … preventing us from being consumed by fear and self-hatred … allowing us to flourish in love and creativity.
BROKEN SHACKLE PUBLISHING 
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