Jonathan Jackson
In 1999, a group of local men organized and certified a local chapter of 100 Black Men, a philanthropic organization that seeks to improve communities through member involvement and education.
One of the local organizers, former coach of Baldwin High School’s Baldwin Braves, James Lunsford, said the group works hard to make life better throughout the community.
“100 Black Men is a community organization,” Lunsford said. “We are predominantly black, but we work alongside others to try and make our community better.”
The group is strong in mentoring youth, a facet of the organization Lunsford said is central to its mission.
“All of our chapters work with mentoring,” he said. “We have a basketball mentoring program partnership with GMC as well [Georgia Military College].”
That one-on-one attention builds relationships that members hope will serve as positive influences on the students being mentored.
“Mentoring is our major program,” Lunsford said. “We have 17 kids that we mentor on Wednesdays and work with them.”
In addition to mentoring, the group maintains an economic development partnership with the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce and works with Georgia College & State University’s diversity program. That particular relationship results in the promotion of the annual Gospel Extravaganza.
“That is a result of our partnership with Georgia College,” Lunsford said. “Our chairman is [the] Rev. Donald Hill. We have been working with their [Georgia College’s] diversity department for the past four or five years.”
The gospel concert raises funds the group pours into the mentoring program. The group currently has 18 members and works in multiple areas of development, including the promotion of prostate cancer awareness.
Each year, hundreds of men take part in a free prostate screening through yet another partnership. Dr. Boris Velimirovich, Dr. Frederick Stewart and Oconee Urology volunteer their time and services to hold the screening for men concerned about prostate health and those with a family history of prostate cancer.
“This program was started in New York by a police officer that wanted to help the community,” Lunsford said. “We are working with education in mind and we are serving all areas of the community.”
