By RayJaun Stelly, The Seattle Medium
Centered around mentoring and addressing the challenges of young Black males in the community, The Breakfast Group, a local non-profit organization, adopted their Project MISTER (Male Involvement & Service To Encourage Responsibility) 33 years ago with the mission of providing intervention opportunities between successful African American adult males and at-risk youth.
Project MISTER is a school-based program that serves Seattle Public Schools such as Garfield, Franklin, Cleveland, and Rainier Beach. As part of the project, a Breakfast Group member/instructor is placed at each school where they teach daily life skills classes with a focus on education, employment, and personal responsibility, and they also share their own personal experiences to help motivate youth within the program.
“A lot of people complain about what’s going on with young people, and what I love about The Breakfast Group is that they’re intentional to address and bridge those gaps,” said Project MISTER instructor Terrance Proctor. “We’re excited about working with their life skills, college prep, and exposure to other Black men who excel in fields that some of these young people may not have considered.”
“A lot of time, guest speakers are taken aback by how quiet students may be. It’s a shock to them at first, and you realize they’ve never seen a Black banker or a financial executive. Then you see the light bulb come on, and the kids go, ‘I can do that,’” added Proctor.
With a curriculum developed by The Breakfast Group, students learn about goal setting, employment preparation, application completion, interviewing techniques, resume writing, responsibilities of fatherhood, family and financial planning, substance abuse, the impacts of poor choices, education planning, and the trades. Once participants have completed the Project MISTER program, students earn the right to attend the annual Tie-One-On Luncheon.
James Carter, Executive Director for the Breakfast Group, says that for some students, the program provides them with a reason to go to school.
“Project MISTER has the opportunity for people who look like them during school hours to mentor them. I’ve had a student tell me he only likes going to school on days he knew we would be in his school building,” says Carter. “Showing up to classrooms and throwing events is important not only for me but also for the volunteers and the Breakfast Group.”
The program is funded by a grant provided by the City of Seattle, with the notion that education is the cornerstone of success. Success within the program is no stranger as many graduates have gone to four-year universities, vocational and technical schools, or local community colleges.
Aside from the Project MISTER program, The Breakfast Group’s All-Achievers Awards/Scholarship Program is another significant program that helps students continue their path towards education and their life goals. Through this program, the Breakfast Group awards scholarships to African American youth and other students who have overcome obstacles while excelling both academically and within their communities. More than 75 students from Seattle Public High School are recognized annually, and over 20 scholarships are awarded for students who are attending a two- or four-year college or university, including technical and trade schools.
Students who graduate from the Project MISTER are eligible for these scholarships, which range from $250 for books to multi-year awards of over $4,000. The program acknowledges students who have displayed exceptional academic and community achievements and encourages them to continue their success in their educational and career paths.
Project MISTER serves an important purpose in the lives of many young Black and brown males who are facing trauma, stereotypes, and other challenges on a daily basis. Unfortunately, these experiences can be difficult for others outside of these communities to understand. This is where the program comes in, providing a much-needed support system for those who are a part of it.
“Because of who we are [as professional Black men], what we do has layers of impact. These young men have had people try and speak into their lives but when it’s us [talking to them], the impact is greater,” says Proctor. “Their idea of Black excellence is limited based on what mass media exposes them to. There are Black men who achieve in every field of human endeavor, and they walk around us all day.”
According to Carter, the goal of Project MISTER is to involve as many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) males as possible. The program’s focus on Black and brown boys is crucial, as these young men require extra attention and support to overcome the obstacles they face. By helping these boys stay on a positive path and avoid incarceration, the program aims to ensure that they can attend college or enter the workforce successfully. Ultimately, Project MISTER is about providing these young men with the tools they need to thrive and succeed despite the challenges they may encounter.
“In Project MISTER, we want as many of our BIPOC males involved as possible. Our focus for Black and brown boys is about attention; they need that extra attention,” said Carter. “The more I can help these Black and brown boys stay out of prison and going to college or the workforce, that’s what it’s about.”
