| Last updated on November 1, 2007 |
It is the mission of the Blue Nile Passage, Inc. to develop the spiritual, cultural and moral character of America’s youth. To help youth develop a philosophy of life which allows them to function in a responsible manner, and to inspire them to high levels of achievement.
Description:
The largest component of the program is our rites-of-passage program for youth of African-descent between the age of 12-15. This program, which runs from September through May, is one of the largest programs of its kind in the country. Yearly, 70 youth from the tri-state area are enlightened in topics that include public speaking, time management, conflict resolution, career guidance and planning, sex education, health & wellness, economics, politics and African history to name a few. Mentoring is a component of the program as all youth are paired with a one-to-one mentor, who undergoes extensive training and screening, and who pledges to work with the youth FOR LIFE. We will be chaptering this program around the city and country in the next few years.
Our rites-of-passage program has been in existence for almost 14 years and is nationally recognized. We received The Golden Apple Award from the City of New York in the year 2000 as the number one volunteer organization in New York out of a pool of 4,000 nominees.
History:
The Blue Nile Passage, Inc. was founded in 1994 at New York’s world-renowned Abyssinian Baptist Church under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III.
In 1992, a strong, determined and longtime member of The Ministry of Christian Social Concerns of The Abyssinian, Baptist Church, Mildred Franklin, challenged its members to start a program that would address the needs faced by today’s youth, especially young men. One year later, in the fall of 1993, nine individuals from two of Abyssinian's active ministries, The Ministry of Christian Social Concerns and The Brotherhood, met weekly for four months to make that vision a reality. The program was created out of an incredible measure of ancestral inspiration, coupled with a vision of proud, culturally enlightened and spiritually grounded people of African descent. Their original focus was to structure a rites-of-passage program that would address the needs and concerns of African American males between the ages of 12 and 16 from the church and who lived on the church block. However, Dr. Butts challenged them to create a program that would become a paradigm for the nation which raised the bar to standards that still remain.
Encompassing areas of knowledge needed to sustain and support a positive and productive life seven topic areas were created and built into the program's curriculum: Personal Growth & Development, Health & Wellness, Spiritual Grounding, Community Consciousness, Historical Black Experience, Economic Awareness and Politics.
The future of the Blue Nile Passage, Inc. will encompass the development of an after school/weekend institution where the mission of character development continues. These young people ages 6-18, will be exposed to the same principles as in the rites-of-passage component but will be taught in stages that are in line with the age of the participants. Time will also be devoted to standard academic support including tutorial services. Youth will be expected to use their knowledge to challenge the world in their own way, to help make it a healthier, cleaner and safer place in which to live, to give back to the organization and to never forget that they stand on the shoulders of those who have come before them and, therefore, they have a generational responsibility to teach, train and develop the next generation.
On Saturdays, the rites-of-passage sessions for 12-15 year olds will continue; however, most of these youth will have been nurtured through the after school component since age six. Earlier preparation will aid in making successful rites-of-passage completion a reality, as the youth will be more mature, aware, disciplined and generally better equipped to receive and process the information presented.
We plan to establish chapters of The Blue Nile Passage, Inc. within the New York tri-state area and eventually throughout the United States. Because our initial focus and expertise will be on the rites-of-passage component, we will dedicate our energies into duplicating this component first. After that, we will seek to introduce and implement the other components as each chapter achieves rites-of-passage success.
Contact people:
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Clifford Simmons, Executive Director, (212) 561-1449 ext: 1, (email)
Gabrielle Baker, Deputy Director, (212) 561-1449 ext: 1, (email)
Dana Farmer, Deputy Director, (212) 561-1449 ext: 1, (email) |
Office fax number: (646) 442-6598
Address:
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POB 881, Lincolnton Stations
New York, NY 10037
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.bluenilepassage.org
Directions:
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Our program runs out of Thurgood Marshall Academy located on 135th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd on Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm during the months of September through May. Please be aware that our mailing address is. . . (more)
Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: IRT #2 or #3 at 135th Street,
Walk distance (in minutes): 3
Nearest Bus Stop: #2 Bus or #133 Bus to 135th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd (7th Ave.), 0 minute walk |
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