CHICAGO – The 100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc. expresses strong initial disappointment with the grand jury decision reached in Ferguson, Missouri in relation to the death of Michael Brown. Michael Brown was a young black man with aspirations of a promising future and productive life as an American citizen that are now gone. We offer our sympathy and support to the Brown family during this time, as residents of Ferguson and the nation are deeply divided and hurt over this decision. As the days progress, it is our hope that Ferguson, Missouri returns to a place of peace and begins the healing process from this traumatic situation that has left a city devastated and in civil unrest.
The 100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc. stands in solidarity with the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and its network of chapters to understand the causes of the use of lethal force against our youth. There are underlying issues contributing to this reality, including under representation in policy making and governance processes, and disparities in education, income and access as the primary areas that must be addressed in Chicago and across the nation to safeguard from future “Ferguson” incidents. The 100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc. will stay focused on our mission of improving the quality of life and educational opportunities for under-served youth in Chicago.
We will continue to utilize our “Four for the Future Programs” of Mentoring, Education, Health and Wellness and Economic Empowerment as the foundation for the advocacy and intervention work in which we will participate. The 100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc. is committed to ensuring that all youth, in particular young black males, are provided the skills and resources to effectively navigate life and become positive and contributing citizens not only in the City of Chicago but also the world.
It is imperative that the City of Chicago joins us to provide mentoring and other educational supports to the next generation of our youth. We can all do more to advocate for justice and violence prevention in Chicago, as this issue continues to impact our city and neighborhoods on a daily basis. Incidents such as the one that occurred in Ferguson, Missouri demonstrate the need for each of us to become actively involved and volunteer our time, talents and efforts to mentor the future leaders of our respective communities.
The 100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc. hopes that everyone will adopt our call to action and help us create solutions to make our city a safe, vibrant and healthy community for our youth and all of its residents.
Jourdan Sorrell
President & CEO
100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc.
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