Since its founding in 2005, the African American Male Education Network and Development (A2MEND) organization has grown from an organization that identified the main component of their mission to “create an affirming academic and professional environment for African-Americans,” to an organization that is actively achieving this mission through providing workshops and presentations throughout California and the United States. Through this outreach, A2MEND aims to engage students, faculty, administrators and student services personnel in addressing the many significant issues and obstacles facing Black males in higher education today.

On Feb. 29, four A2MEND members traveled to Merritt Community College in Oakland, Calif., to present workshops to both student and employee groups. The student workshop focused on the “Five Essential GOALS” necessary to effectively navigate the waters of higher education. These GOALS present students with five tools to better understand the specific needs of the Black male student, as well as five student learning outcome objectives to apply to their own journey through college and beyond. The focus of the employee workshop provided information on institutional factors that assist in “Bridging the Gap” to achievement for Black males.

The student group in attendance included a diverse range of students from varying racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, age and gender groups. An assessment conducted at the end of the workshop measured students’ understanding of the student learning outcomes presented to them. The results show that students from all backgrounds benefited from the workshop and were given the skills to increase communication with individuals on their campus. In addition, the results of the assessment showed that in all five GOALS categories over 70 percent of the students in attendance could identify the intended outcome, with questions ranging from financial aid procedures to remembering the GOAL acronym.

The feedback portion of the assessment from students was both humbling and inspiring, and clearly proved that A2MEND is meeting the intended goals of their mission. Over 99 percent of respondents indicated that more Black males in college should hear this information or attend this workshop.