Canton’s Be A #ModelMan program, a youth leadership and empowerment initiative for young men ages 11 - 15 in the Canton community, recently held its first graduation ceremony at the Summit on the Park, located at 46000 Summit Parkway, in Canton, MI.
Be A #ModelMan was developed by Canton Leisure Services to cultivate six core program values in young men that would encourage the development of young men into respectful and responsible male leaders. These core program values include: integrity, empathy, compassion, inner strength, courage, and respect.
A pilot group of 12 young men was selected through an application process at The B.L.O.C.K. Youth and Teen Center, located in the Canton Township Administration Building, early last fall. Applications required permission from parents for consideration, as well as a commitment to continued learning and implementation of learned skills. Monthly programs were held at various Canton community facilities from December 2016 through April 2017 to increase knowledge of and exposure to local resources.
The Be A #ModelMan program curriculum was developed to promote positive behavior, enhance social skills and encourage contribution and activism in participants’ communities. Topics include: “Redefining Masculinity,” with a special presentation by Canton Public Safety focusing on the program’s core values of empathy, compassion and courage; “Community Man,” a special presentation by U.S. Olympian Jeff Porter focusing on the program’s core values of integrity and inner strength; and “Becoming A #ModelMan,” featuring a special presentation by STEM Engineer Lawrence Brown focusing on the program’s core value of respect.
All 12 members of this pilot program completed this six-month commitment and graduated from the program in front of family and friends celebrating their new understanding of what it really means to Be a #ModelMan.
Interested future candidates are encouraged to apply through The B.L.O.C.K. Youth and Teen Center. Applications will be available on The B.L.O.C.K. Youth & Teen Center website at www.canton-mi.org/146 beginning July 2017. Space is limited.
The B.L.O.C.K. Youth and Teen Center, located on the third floor of the Canton Administration Building at 1150 S. Canton Center Road, provides a fun, teen-friendly environment where students from ages 11-17 can participant in supervised after-school programs, social events, and activities. For more information, visit www.cantonfun.org or call 734/398-5570.