The BROTHERHOOD- May 2022
As we approach the end of this school year and, as we usher off to college the 14 senior Mentees who will soon be alumni of the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program, we continue our outreach to the community to recruit and enroll other high school aged Black Young Men to come forward and become a Mentee in the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program. Even as the 2021-22 school year draws to a close, we have already started to receive applications for next year’s class… and we welcome them. If you are aware of a rising 9th grade through rising 11th grade young Black Man who can benefit from the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program, please [...]
In addition to the Financial Literacy portion of the February Mentor session, the Mentees heard from Retired Major Ronald Steptoe. Mr. Steptoe is a graduate of West Point and served 20 years in the U.S. Army. Through the efforts of his family to maintain their history, Mr. Steptoe told the Mentees the story of his ancestors who were freed Blacks after being indentured servants in the1680s. His 5th Great Grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War and as a result was awarded 400 acres of land in Virginia. His family farmed the land for decades. He talked and presented documentation that during the Revolutionary War, the British Army offered the Black slaves [...]
The Impact of COVID-19 on the National Basketball Association Current Mentee and Senior in the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program - Evan Blyden COVID-19 has added a new level of unpredictability to the NBA. Injuries have always played a role in basketball. They force players to miss time. Teams are left incomplete and have to cover for the member that is absent. These teams may suffer losses that could have been avoided if they had a full team. The same goes for a healthy team playing against a team missing key players. They might get a win they wouldn't have if both teams were healthy. Injuries have a huge effect on a team’s [...]
On February 26, 2022, the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program had a focus on financial literacy and Historical Legacy. The session started with breakfast and fellowship followed by an Ice Breaker. For the Ice Breaker, Mentor Ramsey Jay, Jr., divided the Mentees into four groups. He gave each group an assignment to draft and later articulate a definition of the acronym L.A.M.P., i.e., Leadership, Achievement, Management and Professionalism. Each group was to use their experiences in the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program as part of their definition. Each group had a Group Leader who was selected at random. The Group Leader had the responsibility of facilitating the conversation and describing in their own words what [...]
The 6th Annual Career STEAMposium themed Perseverance Powered by STEAM was held on Saturday, March 19, 2022 as a virtual event due to uptick of COVID cases related to the Omicron virus at that time. Though not all interested parties were attracted to yet another virtual or onscreen event, this year’s STEAMposium still garnered over 230 registrants. This event exposed middle school, high school and community college students to professionals in all aspects of STEAM through five workshops and five Virtual Field Trips. Workshop Speakers shared their backgrounds and brought them forward to their current roles so students knew that they could also succeed in STEAM careers. The students enjoyed Virtual [...]
Annually, the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program celebrates the L.A.M.P. Mentees who are graduating seniors and are matriculating from high school and the Program to a college or university. Most of these Mentees have been with the L.A.M.P. Mentor Program for many years, some from when they began high school as freshman. Our Celebration is a very special day for the L.A.M.P. Mentees, and their parents, and all who participates in this annual event witness what has become A Right of Passage for each graduating Mentee. At the Celebration, the Gamma Zeta Boule Foundation awards all graduating senior L.A.M.P. Mentees with scholarships to assist them during their college or university experience. This year, [...]
Have you ever wished that you could talk to someone who has already walked down the path that you are about to travel? Have you ever wished that someone would have told you about all of the challenges that you are going to face when you move from Middle school to High School, or High School to College, or College to your Career? Has anyone ever said to you, here, take a seat and let me tell you how you can get from where you are now to where I am as a Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Chief Technologist, Movie Producer, or Music Director? Finally, have you ever wished that you could [...]
Dylan Wilson is a former L.A.MP. Mentee, Class of 2021 and current L.A.M.P. alumnus. He is attending California State University in Northridge, majoring in business. However, before he entered high school, Dylan knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur and started his business. Dylan is the Founder and CEO of the firm, DWLUXURY. His company’s product portfolio includes exotic sports cars and other luxury merchandise. He loves high-end car models, clothing, and paraphernalia. When asked how and when his interest in this line of business started, Dylan said, “I have always been fascinated with sports cars from Lamborghini to Porsche to Bugatti. Most people dream of owning one. And now they [...]