PROGRAMS

The Brotherhood/Sister Sol
Rites of Passage

The Brotherhood/Sister Sol Rites of Passage is the core program on which the organization was founded. Our goal is to empower youth through discovery and discussion of history, culture, social problems, and political forces surrounding them. We establish partnerships with public secondary schools to develop gender-specific (Brotherhood or Sister Sol) chapters, each consisting of 10 to 18 youth members and two adult Chapter Leaders. During an intensive four- to six-year Rites of Passage process, members learn critical thinking and global awareness skills through leadership development, drug awareness, conflict resolution, political education, community service, and other activities. Each chapter develops a Mission Statement and collectively defines what it means to be a sister/brother, woman/man and leader. Members also create individual Oaths of Dedication--personal testimonies to how they will live their lives. The program is structured around our ten curriculum focus issues, incorporating topics such as Pan African and Latino History, Sexism and Misogyny, and Political Education and Social Justice.

Our objectives for the program are for our participants to:

· Become independent and resourceful
· Strive for their highest personal potential
· Develop leadership skills and a sense of community responsibility
· Demonstrate knowledge of our curriculum issues and the world
· Build self-esteem, confidence, and self-respect
· Explore beyond their comfort zone and challenge themselves
· Embrace the ideals of brotherhood and sisterhood
· Discover their individual, creative voices

Working toward these goals, we provide a safe space where youth can learn life skills, discuss topics important to them that are not covered in school, explore ideas of community, equality, and diversity, and build friendships in an environment that promotes their positive development as women/men, sisters/brothers, and leaders. We encourage youth to embrace the power, passion, and possibility inherent within them, and to use their talent to benefit themselves and their communities. We establish partnerships with public secondary schools to develop the Chapters, each consisting of eight to fifteen youth (in the same or two consecutive grades) and two adult Chapter Leaders. The Chapter Leaders facilitate weekly sessions and serve as mentors, supporters, confidantes, counselors, teachers, and more. They build trusting relationships and offer guidance to the chapter members as they face the challenges of young adulthood. The Development Program is split into three components:

Stage One: Brotherhood/Sisterhood Building - Two Chapter Leaders facilitate weekly two-hour Chapter sessions, helping to create a safe space where members learn about and discuss topics related to our ten focus areas and other themes relevant to Black and Latino youth. Each chapter selects a name, develops a Mission Statement, and collectively defines what it means to be a sister/brother, woman/man, and leader. These statements become core values each member strives to achieve, and they help members recognize the power of their Chapter to provide unconditional love, guidance and support for them. Members of have 24/7 access to their Chapter Leaders, which is essential to building long-term and meaningful bonds.

Stage Two: Critical Thinking/Knowledge of Self/Global Awareness - The ultimate goal of this stage is to help youth develop the ability to analyze complex issues and make informed, sensitive decisions, skills essential if our members are to fully understand themselves and the world they have inherited. Guest speakers, literature, and multi-media presentations during sessions help youth sharpen their creative problem-solving skills and increase their self-awareness and world knowledge. Chapter Leaders take youth on cultural outings throughout the city and conferences to broaden their experiences and world-view including wilderness retreats and college tours. Our youth practice creative expression in a variety of ways, one being their writing. In 2003, we published Voices of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, a collection of our youth members' poetry, writings, Mission Statements, Definitions, and Oaths of Dedication. This collection affirms their creative visions and further validates their struggles, while inspiring other youth who are uniquely engaged by the writing of their peers.

Stage Three: Rites of Passage - The final phase begins with an intensive process of self-reflection, community and global analysis, culminating in the creation of an Oath of Dedication, a personal statement describing individual beliefs, goals, and the commitments s/he will strive to live by throughout life. Upon completing the Oath process, the youth take on greater leadership roles within their chapter. They facilitate sessions and provide support and guidance to younger members. Members also show leadership and commitment to strengthening their chapters by recruiting new members.