The Black Male Leadership Initiative aims to foster leadership skills and provide a sense of community for the fellows who participate in the two-year mentorship program.
BMLI started in 2010 with only about 12 students involved, and has grown to a program of 32 fellows. Second year graduate student Michael Coleman, said BMLI still uses the programs that were set up in the first years, but it tries to add new things to assess the current needs of the campus.
“We’re just a presence on campus for black males to come to a study hall or learn from other men or just come to the African American Cultural Center to hang out,” Coleman said. “There are small nuances that have to be taught in order to give students a greater holistic learning. This program definitely provides that and is certainly needed.”
Coleman has served as the Black Male Leadership Initiative graduate coordinator for nearly two years.
“Seeing this program was a big factor in me even coming [to LSU] for graduate school,” Coleman said. “To me, this program is so necessary.”
Coleman said seeing the growth of the men of BMLI during their time in the program and playing a part in the success makes him feel great.
“I enjoy knowing that when they succeed down the line, I helped them,” Coleman said. “People helped me when I was growing up, so I want to make sure that I do that for them.”
Earlier in the semester, BMLI welcomed over 200 middle school and high school men of color from around the state for the seventh annual Preview Day. During the event, the students received a campus tour, an interactive session with the College of Engineering and a discussion with the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student Athletes.
Accounting sophomore DJ Myers, a first year fellow, said Preview Day is his favorite event he has experienced in BMLI.
“I was a group fellow, so I was assigned to a huge group of kids. I have two younger brothers, so I think I was able to connect with them more,” Myers said. “ I felt like they were able to see somebody who looked like them be at a college campus, at a big school and be successful”
On Nov. 1, BMLI hosted a financial literacy workshop called Ballin’ on a Budget with Campus Federal. Students learned about credit, proper budget techniques and tips for saving money. Coleman said the program is necessary to provide men of color with important “soft skills” they might not otherwise learn.
Myers said although he was lucky enough to live in a residence hall with people from where he is from, a lot of the men in BMLI are not so lucky.
“A lot of these guys feel like they’re one of a statistic of how many black men there are on campus,” Myers said. “They feel like they’re alone, but when they come to BMLI, they can be around people who are like them mentally or physically. They can feel like they belong to a community.”
Myers said he is looking forward to becoming a second year fellow so he can “be the person who’s teaching.”
“I’m excited for the future,” Myers said. “Second year fellows are reaching back and pulling up, that’s what they’re doing for me now. I feel really excited to do that for new students.”
Kinesiology junior John Wilson is a second year fellow with BMLI and a co-chairman of the program. He said his experience with the program has been about personal growth as a leader.
“It’s helped me to be bolder and to speak my mind,” Wilson said. “It’s taught me that if you learn to be your own person, people will respect you and follow you.”
Wilson said his favorite event he has been involved with at BMLI is the Christmas social.
“For my cohort, that’s when we really started to get to know each other,” Wilson said. “We have it at the end of the fall semester, and it’s just a time for us to come together and play games and get to know one another.”
Wilson said through BMLI, he has learned to respect people of different backgrounds.
“Even as black males, as similar as we can be we are all very different,” Wilson said. “You have to respect each others ideologies and beliefs, but at the same time, not let them narrate what you’re trying to do.”
Wilson said he believes the program is important to show black men there are men at the University who look like them, who also have big dreams and they’re fulfilling them.
“I’m one of two black men at my job and it’s the same in a lot of classes as well,” Wilson said. “A lot of black men on this campus don’t get the extra boost or knowledge that they need to succeed.”
Myers said the men in BMLI are hoping to get Coleman to stay on in a pull time position.
“He graduates in May, so we have been petitioning to get him a permanent position,” Myers said. “He keeps all of us on track and he actually cares about us. He checks back on our grades and our personal lives.”
Coleman said he believes the program is important for the University to develop well-rounded students.
“When you’re on a campus such as LSU that is a majority white institution, there are certain things needed by students of color to help them navigate the space,” Coleman said. “Having people around you who, for one, look like you and have similar experiences is so important. They can teach you things that they’ve gone through that you’re probably going through these things as well.”
