BLACK ACHIEVER HISTORY

The YMCA Black Achievers Program was developed in 1971 by members of the New York Harlem YMCA in order to motivate young Black people toward setting educational and career goals.  The Harlem YMCA sought to achieve this objective by creating a forum to foster ongoing interaction between Black youth and Black men and women who had distinguished themselves in their respective professions.

In 1979, the YMCA BLACK ACHIEVERS PROGRAM of Greater Cincinnati, borne from the innovation of Henry Walters, founding director, and several of his contemporaries possessed a two-fold focus.   First, the program was to provide a vehicle that would increase accessibility for young Black men and women to business and industry.  Secondly, it was to construct a framework for Black professionals to share their collective experiences with Black youth.  This was the picture in the minds of the founding fathers in 1979, and it remains the focus today.

Every year since the Program's inception, Adult Achievers are selected to work with the Program's youth.  The Adult achievers, YMCA staff, volunteers and youth meet, plan and implement the calendar for the youth programming year.   World of Work tours are taken and Career Cluster seminars are held.  The World of Work tours take youth into business settings to gather information about career opportunities: (i.e. education, training requirements, job descriptions, career demands and expectations), while observing professional role models at work.  Career Cluster seminars focus on preparing youth for college and entering the work force.  The areas emphasized are: Communication Skills, Reinforcement of Values, Leadership Development, Job Seeking and Survival Skills. These programs are focused around the main theme - "PARTNERS IN EXCELLENCE."

Over the past several years, the Program has concentrated its efforts on building, refocusing, and redefining its goals.  Under the guidance of concerned Adult Achievers, YMCA staff, and community volunteers, the outlook is now clearer than ever before.  Many of the original goals are firmly intact, while new goals are taking on clarity and dimension.