By Dorothy Boulware
Special to the AFRO
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Crossing the rope in sync signified reaching their goals together.
( Photo by Dorothy Boulware)
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Like all youngsters their ages, some want to be actors and athletes, but many yell out attorney, business owner and even world-renowned fashion designer. One young lady, without specifying a career goal, said she just does not want to live from paycheck to paycheck. One wants to be a pastor; another to enter the Air Force after graduation and another, coming as no surprise to the rest of the group, wants to be president of the United States.
There’s no telling what the current class of Granville scholars will become considering the sound family foundations on which they build and the strong mentoring they receive bi-weekly when they gather on the campus of Coppin State University.
A goal is for them to have a global worldview rather than one of the parochial nature that often plagues inner city youth.
In a recent workshop conducted by Tenyo Pearl, director of American Humanics at Coppin, students tossed a plastic globe to each other and when told to halt, the person holding the globe was asked to locate a country or continent and identify the values of that people.
One student said the people of China are big on education and “they respect their elders, not like us.” Another added, “They’re using Obama’s voice to learn English.”
Another talked about people of Africa being family-oriented and willing to share their goods with the community.
The United States was pegged as being “conceited,” but having “a good army.”
When asked about their personal goals, their lists usually began with God, family, education, money or their mothers.
Pearl challenged the students to read Rich Dad Poor Dad and Good to Great.
This is what’s on the minds of the future leaders of America who come to have their imaginations piqued, their test scores examined, their endurance challenged and their confidence strengthened by their mentor and whatever guests are engaged.
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Granville Academy Gloria Jennings with workshop presenter Tenyo Pearl, director of American Humanics at Coppin State University. (Photo by Dorothy Boulware)
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In the words of the founder, “I want to take motivated minority high school students and get them grounded in the business world, so they can begin their climb and later reach back to help others. That is the primary mission of the Granville.”
In deference to the teacher who took a stand on his behalf because she saw something in him, William Granville Jr. founded the academy to acquaint students with the language, foundation and environment of the free enterprise system. What began in Trenton, N.J. in 1983 has now spread to various urban centers on the East Coast.
Students in the Baltimore chapter, started in 1991, come from Coppin Academy, Reginald Lewis and Western high schools and the Ace Academy. They come promptly and dressed for business, no jeans. Young men must wear shirt and tie.
“We don’t look for straight-A students. We’re looking for students who show great potential,” said the local president and CEO, Gloria Jennings. “These are the students who most likely will profit from an extra push or some specific nurturing.”
They’re referred by guidance counselors or principals, or even from former participants.
“We bring in speakers from corporate America, business owners – people who can serve as role models,” Jennings said. “And for the entire school year, we engage them in as many ways as possible.”
They recently attended a General Assembly session at the invitation of Del. Barbara Robinson. Along with 500 students from around the state, they listened to debate, sat in committee meetings and actually voted on legislation they found relevant – school uniforms and texting while driving.
“The kids are so smart. They analyze things and they think before they start speaking,” Jennings said.
They also attend the Black Engineer of the Year Awards STEM Global Competitiveness Conference each year with the best and brightest, kindergarten through CEO. They talk to people who’re doing what they hope to do. They hear about the future of technology and imagine themselves in previously unimaginable places.
At the end of the year, seniors have a Granville graduation in addition to their school graduation.
“And we take them to Trenton for the National Graduation where each is escorted by an adult and the young ladies wear white gowns and the young men wear tuxedos,” Jennings said. “And then there’s the annual national youth conference.”
When Jennings is not facilitating the session, she looks at the children as if they are her own, beaming with pride at their performance, urging the introverts to speak out.
The breast cancer survivor said they were a driving force in her healing process.
“I was determined to get the program up and running again because I know how much good it does,” she said. “The students really make it work for them.”
A few of the scholars select the armed forces, but 98 percent attend college and move into the careers they’ve chosen. And the parents are a formal support group that meets monthly and helps raise the $1,200 necessary for each student’s participation.
They ended the session we observed with a game of Jenga. What Pearl found was that, as each student came and spoke a preferred value, they were willing to take risks with the pieces they chose to move, and they did it more skillfully than she’d seen.
“I’ve never seen the pile last this long.” Engineers? Architects? Entrepreneurs? President?
Who knows what they’ll do in the future.
The recruitment process begins in April. For more information, call 410-466-5186, email gjjorsme@aol.com or write to P.O. Box 5349, Baltimore, MD 21209.