Added principal David Banks: “We are committed to providing a high quality education for each student in a safe and nurturing environment.�
[Education]
Groundbreaking ceremonies were recently held for The Eagle Academy For Young Men, a $42 million, New Visions For Public School New Century High School.
When completed in July 2009, the Eagle Academy will be a four-story building with a mezzanine and basement level serving 567 boys from grades six to 12.
In the absence of its own building, the school opened three and one-half years ago with 100 boys in the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice. The school is sponsored by One Hundred Black Men, Inc., a community-based organization of professionals with a four-decade record of mentoring, civic involvement and leadership in public education.
Participants in the ceremony included 25 students Eagle Academy students, student spokesperson Odell Patterson, Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, Rev. Jacques A. DeGraff , Philip Banks, Jr., President of One Hundred Black Men, Inc. of New York, Eagle Academy founding principal David Banks, Assemblyman Michael Benjamin, School Construction Authority Trustee Stanley Grayson, and Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm.
The objective of Eagle Academy for Young Men is to prepare students to join the ranks of future leaders in and across society – leaders committed to excellence in character, commitment to community and family, and scholastic achievement. The school is organized around six core principles: Academic Excellence, Mentoring, Leadership, Community Service, Character Development and Integrity.
“The Eagle Academy grew out of our desire to leave a tangible legacy of our 44 year track record of commitment to social and economic empowerment in New York City,” said Philip Banks, Jr., One Hundred Black Men, Inc. of New York President.
Added principal David Banks: “We are committed to providing a high quality education for each student in a safe and nurturing environment.”
In 2003, Banks opened the only school in America built within a judicial complex, the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice, fulfilling a dream he’s had since getting sixty-four 9th grade students interested in careers ancillary to law in 1997.
In announcing a $125,000 capital grant, Assemblyman Michael Benjamin noted: “The new Eagle Academy is a tremendous addition to the district and will inspire future generations to soar as high, if not, higher than an eagle,” said Assemblyman Michael Benjamin.”
According to African-American child and adolescent psychiatrist Michael Pratts, Public educational systems alone do not teach Black boys to become productive people who honor themselves and their community. “Black boys need Black men to be consistently and personally involved with them for this to happen,” he said. “Social and moral responsibility comes from self-esteem. Self-esteem stems from pride. Modeling behavior is desperately needed by young African-American males to identify and internalize racial pride and self-confidence.”
To comment or to subscribe to or advertise in New York’s leading Pan African weekly investigative newspaper, or to send us a news tip, please call (212) 481-7745 or send a note to [email protected]
Also visit out sister publications Harlem Business News www.harlembusinessnews.com and The Groove music magazine at www.thegroovemag.com
“Speaking Truth To Empower.”
