The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

UniTee Design is dedicated to finding better ways to better engage and teach our youth “by any means necessary”. Thus, we are constantly seeking out new and existing educational or enrichment programs that are making a difference in the lives of our young generation.

Here are some of the initiatives we currently fund or support:

F.A.M.E. (fashion, art, music and education) live events not only engage a community to get involved in actively bettering our children, but the F.A.M.E. after-school program is helping students improve their grades to create more academic achievers. Click here to watch video.

“I Can Do Anything
Youth Professional Development”

Historical Inspirations (www.historicalinspirations.net) and UniTee Design have introduced a new educational program for African American youth called “I Can Do Anything”. This powerful curriculum features famous African Americans who have excelled in various professions to give African American children a practical introduction to potential career choices and a greater knowledge of the historical achievements and successes of those who have come before them.

The “I Can Do Anything” program helps youth examine various career options and opportunities by demonstrating the significant achievements that well-known African Americans have made in mathematics, architecture, science, law and entrepreneurship.

Offered in various formats from a 90-minute presentation to a half-day workshop, the “I Can Do Anything” program gives students insight into the careers of Reginald Lewis and Madame C.J. Walker (entrepreneurship); Imhotep and Benjamin Banneker (mathematics); George Washington Carver (science); Thurgood Marshall (law); and, Charles Drew and Daniel Hale Williams (medicine). The great pyramids are also explored to introduce children to the field of architecture.

“The I Can Do Anything” program is available to schools, cultural institutions, churches, and youth and community service groups. For more information, call
Carolyn Mattocks at 443-326-7191.

UniTee Design has developed an engaging
teen entrepreneurial program to empower our young men and women with a strong understanding of business and marketing principles. The goal of this curriculum is to teach important professional, social and business skills to students, and better prepare them for the real “working” world. This program will be launched in 21 Detroit junior high and high schools the first quarter of 2009.

A self-defense and safety awareness program developed in cooperation with The Detroit Threat Management Center helps school-aged children feel more assured and able to protect themselves in their communities by gaining the skills and strategic thinking needed to do so, while fostering self-discipline and respect.

The Model Student Fashion Career Development Program introduces the world of fashion to schools via instructional photography, videography, fashion design, modeling and hair and make-up styling. The program is also structured to reinforce overall academic performance.

Public Art Workz is a summer camp that teaches creative arts and merchandising to inner-city youth. UDI and BlightBusters (a Detroit-based not-for-profit organization) are organizing a major fundraiser in June 2008, featuring Motown recording artists, The Miracles and The Contours, to support this important program. (more…)

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A good friend of mine is helping to kick off a church down in the ATL. Sam (my friend) is a good man who has always had a heart for kids is one of the Pastors of this church. He recently accompanied a friend of his on a trip to Baltimore to work with a couple of church youth groups in the area and take them to feed the homeless. This is part of what he had to say about the experience.

All in all, there weren’t any camera-crews from the local media airing our efforts. No writers from major magazines joined us. Didn’t have any representation from the government (although we were within MINUTES from the White House). Yet, I believe with all the compassion and love that was shown, we were able to provide the kind of representation “to the least of these” that would both make Christ known as well as make Him proud. (you can read more about him, his thoughts on life in general and ministry by checking out his blog here). Both he and his wife Tina are the proud parents of a young man with Autism. Tina is the founder of the organization Myles-A-Part which works with other parents with Autistic children. I cannot say enough good things about this family.