COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (226) issued by COI News Distribution
Service. 17 September 2008
There has been a
fantastic response to the recruitment campaign to establish a
national group of Black male role models - with over 250
applications from across the length and breadth of the country
from successful Black men from a wide range of careers and industries.
A major national search to recruit Black male role models got
underway this summer with Communities Secretary Hazel Blears
calling for motivational Black and mixed heritage men to take a
lead in inspiring the next generation of Black boys to achieve and succeed.
Communities and Local Government will now work with a group of
approximately 40 Black Boys and Young black men to make an initial
sift of the applications, selecting a shortlist of at least 40 of
the most dynamic and inspiring of the candidates.
Once the shortlist has been created the Independent REACH Panel
comprising fashion designer and businessman Ozwald Boateng,
entrepreneur Tim Campbell, founder and Director of Operation Black
Vote Simon Woolley and Metropolitan Police Superintendent Leroy
Logan along with four young advisors will take over the next stage
of the recruitment , putting the final 40 through their paces
during an interview process which will determine who will succeed
to form the final REACH national role model group.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:
"I am delighted that we have had such a positive response to
our calls for Black male role models. Its shows how much
commitment is out there in our communities from successful Black
men who are determined to lead by their own example and ensure
that Black boys and young Black men set their sights high and succeed"
"Too often Black role models can be celebrities and those
who glamorise a world of crime, drugs, guns and gangs but the
applications we have seen from some extremely inspiring and
successful men prove that there are so many more positive images
of Black male achievement that we need to get out there"
The creation of the first ever Black Boys' National Role
Model programme is part of a package of measures to help raise the
aspirations and attainment of some of today's young Black men.
A national role modelling programme was one of the
recommendations made to Government by an independent panel made up
of members who had an in depth understanding of the realities of
the lives of Black Boys and the barriers they face to success. The
Government has responded positively to their report and is
committed to taking action on all the REACH recommendations.
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