The Battle Ready Men mentoring program emphasizes that true responsibility begins at home, where character is shaped and values are instilled. By fostering accountability in our families, we empower our youth to carry that same commitment into their schools and communities.

Each young man learns that leadership isn't just about authority; it's about being a dependable presence for others. Together, we cultivate a generation that understands the profound impact of responsibility, creating ripples of positive change far beyond their immediate surroundings.

Today, we had the privilege of celebrating the incredible efforts of our Battle Ready Men mentees! This special outing was reserved for those who stepped up and completed the rough draft of their Black History Month assignment—an achievement worth recognizing.

We kicked off the day with a fun and meaningful meal at Johnny Rockets, starting with a prayer and sharing laughter over good food. From there, we headed to the movies to watch Captain America, featuring Anthony Mackie—a true example of Black excellence in action.

We were thrilled to welcome two new members and a new intern to our team, bringing incredible energy and fresh perspectives. As we step into Black History Month, we’re excited to educate and empower our mentees with Black leaders' rich history and contributions. This month, we also enjoyed celebrating a birthday, adding to the excitement. The year is off to a great start, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

🎉 Game Night Fun with Battle Ready Men! 🎲

Last week, our mentees brought their A-game to Game Night, and the energy was off the charts! 🙌 The boys went head-to-head in foosball, showed off their skills in ping pong, laid down some serious strategy in UNO, and had a blast stacking (and toppling!) Jenga towers. 🃏🏓🏆

It wasn’t just about the games – it was about bonding, laughter, and building brotherhood. These young men remind us that life is better when we play together and learn together. 💪✨

Shoutout to everyone who made this night possible – you're the real MVPs! 🏅 Can’t wait for the next one. What game should we add next time? Drop your suggestions below! ⬇️

Get ready for an unforgettable evening at the Rise ABOVE Poverty's Youth Initiatives Fall Kick-off Event on September 16 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm! We’ll have inflatables, games, and door prizes to ensure a fun-filled time for everyone. Savor delicious food provided by Who Want Smoke, making it a delightful experience for all ages Connect with program leaders, mentors, and other families, and discover how our initiatives for today’s youth. Don't miss this exciting celebration of community, support, and growth!

Productive excursion to Washington D.C. with the mentees, offering valuable cultural and educational experiences, as well as opportunities to foster meaningful connections with peers. We visited the Museum of African-American History and Culture and for a little dinner and recreation Dave & Buster’s.

For today’s session at Battle Ready Men, we welcome Jamal Finch barber and owner of “Cut From A Different Cloth”. Jamal shared with our mentees his career path that led him to become a License Barber and eventually become an owner. Our mentees asked questions and was surprised to learn that Jamal has to serve as an apprentice for two years before becoming a Master barber.

Oh, did I mention he provided t-shirts from his shop?

Excited to hear what our mentees learned about their Black History subject tonight. This assignment is a prerequisite to attending our trip to Washington D.C. and the African-American Museum. Our program, PDA's {Personal Development Assignment} is designed to enrich their learning and development as young African-American men.

We always begin our mentoring session with the young men on the topic of respect. It’s a topic many of them have heard of, but all too often they have no idea how it applies in their lives. We start with the basics what does “respect” mean?

Come out and learn about our program and how we can help the adolescent in your life become Battle Ready.

Click Here to Register: Battle Ready Men

Last month Battle Ready Men Mentoring wrapped up it’s year with a trip to Washington, D.C. The purpose of the trip was to take our mentees to the African-American Museum of History and Culture. We also visited the Ronald Reagan building, last but certainly not least we took the boys to Dave & Busters for some fun!

Tomorrow's session for our mentees will be on Financial Literacy.

Our guest speaker for tomorrow session is Cal Corriders. Cal is the Community Development Officer at PathFinder Bank. Cal also serves on the Central New York Community Foundation's Black Equity & Excellence Advisory Board.

We are excited to hear what wisdom he shares with our mentees about money, and savings.

Our next meeting is Monday, May 1st at 6:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars and plan accordingly. We kindly ask you to enter through the Midland Ave entrance.

The importance of Good Hygiene is our topic of discussion for our mentees. Developing these habits early in life will be beneficial as they transition from adolescents to teenagers.

This Black History Report is on Ruby Bridges. Several of our mentees did their report on Ms. Bridges. I believe the proximity in age contributed to them to report on her.

Our Birthday Boy

During the month of February our mentees will be presenting on their person of interest for Black History!

Today we had the pleasure of attending a school ceremony for one of our mentee’s in the program. He was being recognized for his academic success. He made the Honor Roll in his class and we wanted to celebrate his achievement with him. Well Done Ryshin

Save the Date. Registration opens in on 9/6/22.  Space will be limited so register early. For more information email Reggie@syracusealliancechurch.org.

To register go here: Battle Ready Men

Great Lesson on Relationship from Mr. Troy,

We discussed the different types of relationships we experience in life: Family, Friends, Acquaintances, Platonic, and Romantic Relationships.

We also had a special recognition during the evening as one of our mentees completed and presented his assignment for Black History Month.