Local students got a back to school surprise when members of the 100 Black Men of Austin showed up to wish them a successful school year.
Thousands of Central Texas kids are headed back to school this week and one local charter school got an extra special boost of encouragement to start the new year off right.
Llyas Salahud-Din, Director of Development at Texas Empowerment Academy called in some fellow professionals and community leaders from the 100 Black Men of Austin to stop by, share some encouraging words and greet each student as they headed off to class.
Salahud-Din said,”I am responsible for developing the minds and hearts of young people. Teach them about their culture and history everyday. The kids have a greater since of self respect.”
Texas Empowerment Academy was founded in 1998 as a mechanism to provide children with an innovative alternative for educational excellence in grades K-12. Since its inception, The Academy has grown into a jewel in East Austin where primarily African-American students of all labels (i.e., at risk, special education, gifted and talented, economically disadvantaged and Title 1) attend.
“This is the first day of school. We believe what they see is what they become. Today they saw a bunch of black male professionals, doctors, lawyers, teachers, a black fire chief,” Salahud-Din said. “They see them and talk to them and share the professions so they know they can do and be anything.”
The 100 Black Men of Austin strives to create an environment where Black men, regardless of socioeconomic status or educational background, can grow and take an active role in improving our own quality of life, enhancing the educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans through mentoring and collaborating with other organizations.
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