Norton, Davis Hosted Congressional Caucus on Black Men & Boys Hearing Featuring 11 Mentoring Groups

WASHINGTON, D.C – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL), co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Men and Boys, held a hearing with 11 organizations on March 11th focused on mentoring black men and boys from nine separate congressional districts. The hearing discussed the importance of mentoring support for young men. The strong turnout of mentoring organizations showed that these groups have proliferated in recent years. The Congressional Caucus on Black Men and Boys serves as a vehicle to elevate, expose, and address chronic issues that disproportionately affect black men and boys.

"The troubling achievement gap between black men and boys compared to black women and girls has continued to grow," Norton said. "As we heard, there may be nothing more positive than strong role models for black youth that can help close this achievement gap and lead to a brighter future for our young men. This disparity between men and women is a threat to the African American community itself. This hearing was full of insights and new information. Among the most important information for me was the current use of many varieties of mentoring, including peer mentoring, intergenerational mentoring, one-on-one mentoring, virtual mentoring, corporate mentoring, and group mentoring, which was said to be the most effective. Group mentoring has not only been effective, it has been necessary because of the scarcity of mentors, despite the impressive showing at our hearing."

Members of Congress and mentoring organizations who took part are as follows:

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) with 100 Black Men of the Greater Washington DC

Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) with Black Achievers (YMCA DE)

Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-SC) with Low Country Youth Services

Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) with U.S. Dream Academy

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) with Mentor Connect

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) with East Oakland Youth Development Center

Congressman Donald McEachin (D-VA) with Petersburg Kappa League

Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) with Eagle Academy Foundation

Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) with 100 Black Men of the Virginia Peninsula, Boys and Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula, and Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Virginia