Brothers of Ujima : A Cultural Enrichment Program to Empower Adolescent African-American Males

Ujima is a Kiswahili word that means collective work and responsibility. Brothers of Ujima presents a unique cultural enrichment program designed to reinforce and bring out the strengths of African American preadolescent and adolescent males. This group counseling program helps young men plan and achieve their future goals as they make the transition from elementary to middle school and from middle to high school. The program helps men in achieving direction, identity, and critical consciousness that lead to more positive self-esteem and relationships with others, greater ethnic pride, and higher expectations for future accomplishments. Group sessions cover African and African American culture, responsibility to others, health and fitness, education, life course, handling conflict, and many other key topics. Program objectives: To help group members gain an understanding of the Nguzo Nane (Eight principles for Living) To increase knowledge of and appreciation for African and African American culture To encourage pursuit of physical health and fitness To encourage critical awareness of myths and stereotypes of African Americans presented in the media To develop creative thinking and leadership skills To strengthen personal goal setting and commitment to education To develop positive ways of coping and handling conflict To increase knowledge of local community history To increase awareness of adult role models within the African American community