THE NATHAN INITIATIVE
Making the world a better place by empowering others to succeed.
BLACK MALE COLLEGIATE SUCCESS
One Step at a Time
Kingdom Men is an equity-minded approach created to address documented inequities in the post-secondary education of Black men. It is an adaptable system that offers a positive and supportive structure for your disproportionately impacted students. We have designed a flexible, four-pronged, and evidence-based approach to achieve positive outcomes. The college listed below has had tremendous success with this program and movement:
“I was able to develop as a leader”
Nate
TESTIMONIALS/NETWORK
ANTHONY
Student
"When I think of MEN and what it represents, it represents an answer to systems of oppression that have plagued the black experience, especially against black males. As I progressed through my first semester at SCC, I felt alone, unheard, underrepresented, behind, and undervalued. Although this is an institution of learning, society’s systemic social constructs still prevailed. The burden to succeed wasn’t easy and I was beginning to crumble under the weight.
Bryan stopped me one day and exposed me to this idea of a brotherhood, a brotherhood focused on not only succeeding academically but socially as well. He exposed me to the fact that what I was feeling was part of a bigger problem that we could do something about. I found a purpose through MEN that wouldn’t have been realized had a program not been created to focus on my needs and the needs of others like myself. I have no doubt that MEN is a tailor-made pathway to prosperity not only on campus but outside of campus. MEN is creating a culture change of black men who seek out purpose and work with integrity while pursuing excellence. Without this program, I wouldn’t be where I am today as a student and a member of the bigger picture, our community."
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NATE
Student
Before I joined M.E.N. I was not involved with any extracurricular activities on campus. I was like most other students; go to class, go home, repeat. I took care of my grades but did not do anything extra to make myself stand out. Meeting Bryan Stewart, I was able to develop myself as a leader. Being a part of M.E.N. has afforded me a number of different opportunities ranging from peer-to-peer guidance to participating in student advocacy programs. M.E.N. has also helped me to develop my career goals, I went from an inclination towards psychology to wanting to pursue medical school; this decision became far more clear after seeing how gratifying it can be to help people in meaningful ways.
CHRIS
Student
People often forget how hard being black is, and it’s very easy for society to forget when the narrative has never really been our own. History is often told from the side of the victor. Black people have not had a lot of victories in this country. One victory that the M.E.N’s group pushes for is academic success, which has been a low point for the black community for a long time.
Having Bryan Stewart here to inspire us and remind us to keep going is a priceless commodity. I’ve been in several classes where I’m the only black person, and it does feel isolating. It becomes worse when we have to work in groups and everyone kind of just runs away from you. Some minds are still pretty closed on a college campus. But having Bryan here to remind me to push through, and having a group where I can interact with students who don’t ostracize me based on my appearance or background, it makes a huge difference and gives me the little push I need to make it through each semester.