Visiblemen

Greatness is not where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. … We must sail, sometimes with the wind, sometimes against it, but sail we must, and not drift nor lie at anchor. —Oliver Wendell Holmes

I write this blog while on summer vacation at the beach with my family. I hope this finds you enjoying some recreation and sunshine in whatever form that takes for you. We are savoring a few long, salty days with sandcastles, surf, and sunsets.

A nautical quote is certainly relevant. The tides are turning, and we are gearing up for 2011, which promises to be an exciting year of growth and expansion for us. We were thrilled to receive our status as a 501c3 nonprofit organization this spring. This milestone allows us to focus on strategic fundraising/development opportunities and inspires us to explore partnerships in the nonprofit and for-profit worlds.

In the coming weeks we’ll be sharing some exciting news about our recent grant awards and all that we are now able to deliver to young black boys and men as a result. We are also working around the clock on the inVision Project, our after-school expansion initiative; the Visible Men Recruitment Campaign for showcasing successful black male role models; website enhancements; and more.

We have some really cool ideas on how to use technology as a means to empower and connect young black boys with successful black men all around the country. We are convinced that the sharing of positive multimedia VM content with youth who have limited resources is a powerful tool. Just this evening I was able to introduce my two sons to their deceased great-grandfather from Jamaica via an old commercial he was in (he’s the gentleman in the hat with the walking stick at the end). After watching this, we stayed up talking about my family and my heritage, and watching this classic commercial countless times. Technology!

Thank you so much for your interest and support in Visible Men and our mission. We are inspired by the diversity of thought and backgrounds in the Visible Men movement. We know that together we can celebrate and elevate young black boys and men to new heights of achievement. There is a ton of work to do, but we are growing in numbers, resources, and passion every day.

Happy summer to you all!

Are you following us on Twitter? Have you like’d us on Facebook? Have you referred a friend, colleague, or neighbor to Visible Men to join the movement?