Program Motto: “Transforming Boys to Men”

Program Overview: The Turning Point of Lansing provides African American males in grades 6 through 12 with an afrocentric group mentoring experience.  The program has been in operation for over 16 years and has now come into its own as an independent program and is 501 c (3) certified.  With the many seminars and workshops that the program offers, several key issues are addressed, such as education, relationships, health, communication skills, professionalism, financial responsibility, and sexual responsibility. The many seminars and workshops allow young men to become more aware of their role in society, their responsibility as men, and how they can start making their societal impact immediately. The culmination of the program’s annual activities is a Rites of Passage ceremony, where graduating seniors are recognized. The ceremony is also symbolic of the graduating seniors moving into manhood.

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Program Goals:
The Turning Point of Lansing will focus on the following areas to establish, build, challenge, and develop in African American males:

Pride as an African American male

Academic and professional success

Direction on tough issues

Provide a forum for discussions

Establish relationships through group mentoring

Our Vision

To meet the cultural and social needs of young, African American males in Ingham, Clinton, and Eaton Counties (Michigan) by providing them with an effective support network of role models who are determined to help them realize their fullest potential in society.

Our Mission

The Turning Point of Lansing transforms boys to men by providing an afrocentric group mentoring experience that gives young African American males an opportunity to explore life’s challenges all while developing strategies for success in their lives, school, and communities.

NGUZO SABA (The 7 Principles)

The Turning Point of Lansing strives to provide its program participants with cultural awareness, positive attitudes, and professional skills through an afrocentric programmatic theme, which is based on the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa.

Umoja
(OO-MO-JAH)

(Unity)

To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Kujichagulia
(KOO-GEE-CHA-GOO-LEE-YAH)

(Self-Determination)

To define us, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Ujima
(OO-GEE-MAH)

(Collective Work and Responsibility)

To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujamaa
(OO-JAH-MAH)

(Cooperative Economics)

To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Nia
(NEE-YAH)

(Purpose)

To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Kuumba
(KOO-OOM-BAH)

(Creativity)

To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Imani
(EE-MAH-NEE)

(Faith)

To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Annual Program

In the spirit of Nguzo Saba, The Turning Point of Lansing’s annual program activities accentuate each principle of Kwanzaa.  Each month’s educational activities focus on a different principle of Kwanzaa and the teachings that embody that principle. The annual program also consists of a number of social and service activities to enhance the interaction of the young men.  These activities are highlighted by a Kwanzaa program and a Rites of Passage ceremony to celebrate the mid-point and end of program activities, respectively.  The general structure of the annual program is as follows:

September is highlighted by a program kick off and informational event, where the community is presented with an overview of The Turning Point of Lansing, its staff, and annual programming.

Participants are challenged to gain an understanding of their purpose in their communities and society.  Education is stressed as an essential tool in preparing participants for their role as active citizens, workers, and heads of household.

Participants are challenged to take responsibility for their own destiny and are challenged to motivate themselves to take an active role in ensuring the well-being of their communities.

December is highlighted by an annual Kwanzaa program, which serves as a family celebration of the principles that embody Kwanzaa and also to recognize the mid-point successes and transformation of participants.

Participants are challenged to create a new idea or concept to address a community issue.  This idea or concept will be presented to the community at large and will be performed as a team building activity to help participants learn to work as a team.  Participants are urged to use their own goals and passions to drive this project.

Participants are challenged to believe in themselves, their people, teachers, communities, leaders, and the struggle.  This theme also focuses on the spiritual aspects of the African American community and how spirituality has always played a major role in the growth of our communities.  Participants are challenged to look deep into their spirits to redefine and refocus their purpose.

Participants are challenged to make an impact in the communities via service.  Participants are challenged to create community service projects in which they are fully responsible for the implementation.

 

Participants are challenged to learn how the economy works and to be productive citizens in it.  Participants also learn the importance of saving, investing, and sharing money.

The culmination of the program’s annual activities is a Rites of Passage ceremony, where participants are recognized for their successes and graduating seniors are highlighted for their program matriculation. The ceremony is also symbolic of the graduating seniors moving into manhood.

 ***Other social and service activities take place from June to August to allow continued interaction with program participants.  For more specific information on our annual program, please see our program calendar.