Commissioner McCray Connect to GreatnessR15-055
EXHIBIT "A"
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUNDS
REQUEST FORM
Part I - Summary of Request (to be completed by City Clerk)
Date of Request: 02/04/2020
Requested by Mayor/Commissioner: Commissioner McCray
Amount Requested $1,000
Recipient/Payee: Connect To Greatness, Inc.
Description of project, program, or activity to be funded:
Connect to Greatness Empowers African —American Boys to re -imagine their reality and
become change makers in the world. TheLeadership Academy is a 15 week program,
which hellSbuild character in the youth.
Part II - Availability of funds
The annual appropriation of funds available to the requesting Member of the
Commission listed above is $4 dbo
The balance of funds available for the requesting Member of the Commission is
$1,000 .
Accordingly:
i/ There are funds available as requested
There are insufficient funds available as requested
Dated: By: 4 a,, —4 1
City Clerk
Part III -Eligibility Evaluation
Public funds will not be used to improve private property unless there is a clear
public need, purpose and benefit
The recipient/payee provides services within the City
The public purpose is beneficial to thee c uni served by'such donation
Dated: �. y:
q ting mber of the dty Com , is ion
S:\CC\WP\COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUNDS\Community_Support_Funs_Policy.2015.doc
❑ MAIL CHECK TO VENDOR P1 RETURN CHECK TO DEPT. ❑ INCLUDE BACK-UP W/ CHECK
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH
DIRECT PAYMENT REQUISITION
Please issue a check in the amount of $ 1,000.00
VENDOR #: 16486
TO: Connect to Greatness
1530 W. Boynton Beach BLVD
#3525
Boynton Beach Florida 33424
FOR: Community Support Funds distribution
Commissioner McCray
City of Boynton Beach
Requested By: Queenester Nieves Date: February 4, 2020
Approvals:
Div Head r
Finance Dept.
City Manager
1 1,000.00
CONNECT TO GREATNESS, INC.
Empowering African-American Boys to re -imagine their reality and become change makers in
the world.
Boys to Men leadership Academy
The Boys to Men Leadership Academy is a 30 -week program with weekly 90 -minute sessions.
These self-discovery sessions include simulation learning experiences and solution -focused
dialog around relevant, real-time issues impacting African-American/Black boys in school, the
community and at home. These sessions engage community leaders such as the Mayor,
Superintendent, Police Chief, dads, and business owners as part of building the foundation of
support for our youth. In addition, we have men serving as "coaches"/mentors to educate,
inspire and motivate male youth in the area of social responsibility, leadership, and character
development.
In the Boys to Men Leadership Academy, we expect the following concrete results: 1) 100% of
our male youth will be promoted to the next grade; 2) 100% of our male youth will NOT enter
into the juvenile justice system and 3) 90% of our male youth will graduate successfully from
the 30 -week program. We have a total of 22 young men and 10 are 8th grade boys who have
been in the program for three years.
Connect to Greatness, Inc. has started our "2024 Scholarship" fund. We are seeking to
fundraise $100,000 to help support the college needs of the initial 10 young boys who started
the program as 6th graders in 2016. These funds will also provide for academic support such as
tutoring, SAT & ACT Prep courses which can range from $2100 to $3500 per. We appreciate and
honor all donations for Connect to Greatness, Inc. We have a program budget of about $33,500
per year and it has been a bit tough to store money for the scholarship fund as well. We are
determined and dedicated to reach our $100,000 goal.
Sincerely Yours,
Andre Thaddies
Vice -President, Connect to Greatness, Inc.
www.Connect2greatness.com Phone: 561.325.9118 Email: C2Ginc561@gmail.com
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CONNECT TO GREATNESS, INC.
Empowering African-American Boys to re -imagine their reality and become change makers in the world.
Boys to Men Leadership Academy
15 -week program
1) Cultural Awareness: 2 weeks to establish "who we are", "who the students are" and "who do they want
to be". Lay the groundwork from the historical perspective of young black men in crisis.... being "invisible
Men". Educate the group on a large percentage of negative consequences that is keeping black males in
crisis.
• A pervasive negative entertainment culture.
• Racism
• Fatherlessness
• Multi -generational poverty which leaves families without tools to make a change.
Weeks 1 and 2 will comprise of discussions, literature, speakers, and open forums to focus on these
aspects and their meanings and relevance to each of their lives. We will provide simple examples,
statistics, and other data that shows they are just as likely to be "Successful" than to continue being
invisible black men. (August 24th & August 31St).
II) See and be Leadership: 2 weeks to help create a vision for these young men to see themselves as
potential or continued leaders. Practice saying what they feel and asking for what they need and want
using "I" messages. Start with sharing and learning about images and messages from both past and
present black males leaders in our society. Analyze and identify what does being a leader means to them.
• Communicating Clearly
• Assertiveness Techniques
• Exploring Their Options
Weeks 3 and 4 will continue to build the foundation of growth and knowledge of self for each of these
young men. Bring in dynamic black male leaders from the community to show these young men how and
why being a leader is so important for them to strive to be. Ex. Male Principals, politicians, athletes,
businessmen, and Clergy can and will be used to share the broad message and opportunities to these
young men. (September 3rd & September 14th)
www.Connect2greatness.com Phone: 561.502.0504 Email: C2Ginc561@gmail.com
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CONNECT TO GREATNESS, INC.
Empowering African-American Boys to re -imagine their reality and become change makers in the world.
111) Mental Health Awareness: 1 week topic to address the need for understanding the importance of being
mentally healthy. Awareness of the prolific neglect of mental health support in the African — American
community.
Week 5 (September 17th)
IV) Social Interaction Skills: 1 week focus on understanding and improving Social Interaction dynamics in
your environment.
• Self -Control
Expressing Your Feelings
Ways to Keep You From Losing Control of Your Feelings.
Week 6 (September 21St).
V) Keeping it Clean and Fresh: 1 week focus on hygiene and appearance. Identify the physical changes that
comes along with puberty and how as young black boys, it is so important to present yourself
accordingly.
• Proper Dress
• Diet and Exercise
• Shaving and Grooming
Week 7 (September 28th)
VI) Speak on Your Feet: 2 week focus on the importance of Public Speaking. Teach basic speaking
fundamentals and engage in a series of debate style communications. Emphasize the importance of
engaging in dialogue that may involve differences in opinion and how to best deliver your thoughts with
effective narrative words.
• Debate Techniques
• Listening First
• Choice of Vocabulary
• Ebonics vs King's English
Week 8 and 9 (October 5th & 8th)
www.Connect2greatness.com Phone: 561.502.0504 Email: C2Ginc561@gmail.com
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CONNECT TO GREATNESS, INC.
Empowering African-American Boys to re -imagine their reality and become change makers in the world.
VII) Financial Literacy: 3 week focus on the early importance of Financial Empowerment and Education.
Fundamental knowledge of understanding and maneuvering in our Capitalistic society.
• Saving and Investing
• Entrepreneurship
• Needs vs. Wants
• Job Skills
Weeks 10, 11, and 12 will educate these young men on true access to what is needed to survive and
thrive in a financial world that is built around having "knowledge" of the system. (October 12th, 191h &
22nd .
VIII) Community Awareness: 1 week of learning about the historical importance of their community.
Week 13. (October 26th)
IX) Community Service Learning Project: 2 weeks of actual real life experience using their training. Through
our partnership efforts, we will allow for field -trip like experiences for the young men to see and feel
these opportunities that they will have in life.
Weeks 14 and 15. (November 2nd & 9th)
This curriculum is for the first year of the Boys to Men Leadership Academy. The first cohort of 6t1
graders will complete this 15 session academy and move to 2.0 after the second semester and spend
more time with their coaches. The second group of 6th graders will be selected Mid November and will
start the program in January after the holiday break using the same 15 week curriculum.
www.Connect2greatness.com Phone: 561.502.0504 Email: C2Ginc561@gmail.com