Andre Mayfield-Coleman was one of six fifth-grade boys from Stedman Elementary that stood up in front of more than 100 Denver leaders and students on Saturday to present a quick poem.
“My voice is fierce… my soul is the dream of Martin Luther King… I am the future,” the boys recited in unison.
Andre said he wasn’t nervous.
“It felt great. I felt like the power was actually in me,” Andre said. “Everybody knew what I was saying.”
The My Brother’s Keeper summit, part of a national initiative launched by President Barack Obama in September 2014, was held in Denver Saturday for the second year in a row.
The goal is to make more young boys, particularly minority boys, feel empowered like Andre did.
The workshop gathers community leaders to discuss ways to provide more opportunities for success for all young boys.
The Stedman program Andre is a part of, is one sponsored to mentor fifth grade boys before they make the transition to middle school — one that experts argue can be a difficult one for all kids. The program at Stedman also focuses on letting boys learn how to express their emotions, to target mental well-being.
“We wanted to bring all these efforts together and to make sure we mobilize them for the greater good of the initiative,” said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. “We’re not perfect yet, but we know we are working to really fulfill the true spirit of this national effort.”
Workshops through the day focused on understanding the effects of stress on youth, including how and when to intervene, as well as discussions on relationships with law enforcement and tips for job searches.
Among the boys at the event, was a group of students from North High School and two recent alumni who return to North to mentor students.
“Growing up I never had anyone to walk me through this, so now this is my chance to show the students that people from our neighborhood can be successful,” said Clinton Brown, a 2013 North graduate now studying at the University of Denver.
Angelo Sierra-Mendoza, 17, one of the current North students, said he just hoped to learn Saturday more about how all minority groups could help each other to “push forward for success.”
“This city is our city,” Hancock said. “We can not, we will not, succeed if we find it acceptable to leave young men, young boys, anybody behind. We need every Denver resident to thrive. It does take a village.”
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372, yrobles@denverpost.com or @yeseniarobles
