LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The 100 Black Men of West Texas chapter started in 1996 with a goal of providing opportunities and programs for young men of all backgrounds, regardless of education level, ethnicity or race.
Reggie Dial, president of the chapter, says the organization is able to provide services in education, health and wellness, economic empowerment and leadership development.
“We want to be a supporter, a support system for them, whether that’s emotionally, financially or whatever it is that we can do to help that young person,” Dial said. “We want to be that guiding light for them, so we are just here to be, not a handout, but a hand up.”
The organization also offers scholarships opportunities with more than 450,000 dollars donated to high school seniors over the past twenty-nine years.
“It’s an opportunity to give scholarships to young people who want to further their education,” Dial said. “I want to say just last year we gave out over $100,000 in scholarships to 10 worthy students within our community, so it’s just an opportunity to give back and let these young people live out their dreams.”
Dial says as the program grows, the need for mentorship grows, too, with the program expanding its focus to young women as well.
“One of the good things we have done in the last couple of years is, we focus on a lot on young men, but we also have to focus on young women as well,” Dial said. “So we started a committee called The Women of the 100 that also focus on the young ladies in our community, because they need mentorship as much as the young men.”
Dial says conflict will always come into your life, and the organization’s motto of “what they see is what they will be” is the driving factor for the positive change they hope to make.
“As a young man or as a young lady, you go through some pivots in your life and you want to make sure you have someone who guides you through those situations,” Dial said. “You’re not going to avoid trouble, you’re not going to avoid bad times, but you need a light to get you through those dark times right, so that’s what we are, that is what they see is what they will be means.”
If you believe your child is in need of mentorship, you can find the 100 Black Men of West Texas website by clicking here.
The organization is currently looking for singers, rappers, comedians and performers for a talent show on April 12.
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