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Philadelphia Program Works Hard to Mentor Our Struggling Black Boys

Michelle Kuilan Martin and her husband Anthony started the What it Takes Foundation to mentor young black males. Our black males are struggle in multiple areas of life, and organizations like this one can be literal life savers. They are seeking more black male mentors, so please give them your support if you can. (continue)
Source: Blacklikemoi.com

CBS NFL Host James "JB" Brown, Mayor Michael Nutter and Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick Among Those Set To Confront...

The Philadelphia Drop-out Crisis As Mentors For The 4th National What It Takes® Symposium

Philadelphia, PA (BlackNews.com) -- From the administration to education and industry leaders, the chronic high school drop rate is a threat to the economic viability of local and regional businesses. Successful social entrepreneur Anthony Martin, founder of the What it Takes® Foundation and the popular Urban Youth Racing School has partnered with the Franklin Institute and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to bring nationally recognized men from professional sports, broadcast journalism and the business world to talk about the sacrifices they made to achieve academic and professional success. (continue)
Source: Black News.com

Howard Hosts "What It Takes" Symposiums to Re-engage male youth

Organization responds to President's call to mentor at-risk boys with the "What It Takes"

WASHINGTON (April 14, 2011) – Getting to the top takes hard work and dedication. Trying to pass that commitment down to inner-city kids can be a challenge at times. Urban Youth Racing School founder Anthony Martin, answering President Barack Obama's call to action on education and mentorship, found a solution in the "What It Takes" symposiums Presented by the US ARMY. The national outreach initiative, which connects highly successful minority entrepreneurs, scientists, professional athletes, businessmen, military officers, medical professionals and educators with high potential but low performing minority males, will be held in partnership with Howard University on from 2-6 p.m. on April 14 in the Armour J. Blackburn Center. (continue)
Source: Howard University News Room

Franklin Institute holds "What It Takes" symposium for male youths

The Franklin Institute had a healthy turnout of youths participating in the "What It Takes" symposium last week.

The fifth "What It Takes" symposium of personal improvement was hosted by the Franklin Institute on February 28. Over 250 boys from schools in Philly was there to listen to the teachers, mentors and celebrities to help guide them.

"What It Takes" is a collective of diverse parents, clergy, concerned corporate citizens, celebrities, educators and government. Their mission is to 'inspire the young men in our communities to focus on education so they can create meaningful goals for success. (continue)
Source: The Philadelphia Sun

What It Takes panel needed no quarterback

ANDRE IGUODALA sat on a stage at the Franklin Institute. African-American success stories from the worlds of business and the media and the military were on either side of him. Two-hundred high school-aged boys were arrayed in the audience before him. The fifth symposium sponsored by the What It Takes Foundation was under way, and somebody wanted to know what kind of grades Iguodala earned in high school. (continue)
Source: Philly.com

What It Takes to Get Over

Philadelphia is revving up efforts to change the conversation about young black males. Anthony Martin, executive director and co-founder of What It Takes Foundation, is showing the way. WIT is a national outreach initiative to connect black boys with black men who can show them "what it takes" to achieve success. (continue)
Source: Anderson@Large.com

THE 3-MINUTE INTERVIEW: Anthony Martin

Martin is the founder of Urban Youth Racing School, which uses race-car driving to get kids interested in learning about science, technology, engineering and math. Martin also directs an annual symposium joining inner-city students with professional athletes and other successful role models. (continue)
Source: Washington Examiner

What's Up with that Brother!?! Michael Vick, Shane Mosley, and Wayne Brady | Seeing is Believing #theBuzz

What's Up with that Brother!?! CBS NFL host James "JB" Brown, Mayor Michael Nutter and eagles quarterback Michael Vick among those set to confront the Philadelphia drop-out crisis as mentors for the 4th national What It Takes® symposium. Entrepreneur Anthony Martin, founder of the What it Takes® Foundation and the popular Urban Youth Racing School has partnered with the Franklin Institute and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to bring nationally recognized men from professional sports, broadcast journalism and the business world to talk about the sacrifices they made to achieve academic and professional success. (continue)
Source:DryerBuzz.com

Michael Vick is giving the doubters a reason to doubt

The chair was empty. More than 200 boys had come to the Franklin Institute on Monday for an event called What It Takes, the brainchild of Philadelphian Anthony Martin, who is trying to provide mentors for kids at risk of dropping out of high school. (continue)
Source: Philly.com