Black Youth Leadership Project
bylp.org
BYLP has a lot in common with the Illiterates Academy, such as Student and Family Advocacy and Student Support Networks but offers more services and is structured to offer legal services. They offer family counseling, educational system support and programs for substance issues. The president and CEO, Loreen Pryor, has a strong background in legal advocacy and social services, both of which are offered through this organization.
BYLP’s services and the website are both better than the Illiterates Academy, with a clear message, which is an unfinished website as well as a startup.
The Hidden Genius Project hiddengeniusproject.org
This organization is only similar to The Iliterates Academy in that it’s focused on black boys, and was founded in Oakland. However, its mission focuses on elevating boys who already show promise in tech, engineering and leadership.
HGP is massive by comparison. It has eight other sites located around the country, a board of directors, and relationships with major corporations.
The website is much better. It is likely student-built and maintained; they have a web development and graphic design program.
CHAMPS Mentoring champsmentoring.org
“The mission of the C.H.A.M.P.S. Male Mentoring Program is to Educate, Empower, and Expose Boys and Young Men of Color beyond the four walls of the school in order to help them to achieve their dreams and goals.”
CHAMPS is located in Chicago, and it serves brown and black boys, but otherwise it is the closest “competitor” to The Illiterates Academy. The Mission and Services areas are much like the Academy’s. The target audience is very similar; their primary audience is the boys themselves, rather than the parent(s).
There is a lot to “borrow’ here, CHAMPS will serve as a Role Model.