100 Black Men of America, Inc. Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Annual Conference in San Francisco June 9-12

Since incorporating in 1986, The 100 has established itself as the  nation's leading organization for pairing at-risk youth with  African-American male mentors for multi-year commitments of guidance  through their grade school education and beyond. Additionally, the  organization's 116 chapters around the world deliver mentoring programs  and workshops that educate their communities in the areas of Education,  Health & Wellness, Leadership Development, and Economic Empowerment.

This year's Annual Conference promises to be more than a corporate  gathering of the best in business, politics, education and medicine.  Members of The 100, members of Collegiate 100® (the university  extension), their families and mentees will gather to assess the  triumphs of the previous year and discuss strategies for making an even  greater impact in the communities they serve in the years ahead.

Admission for the general public to the 100 Black Men of America's Annual Conference is available at www.100BlackMen.org .

This year's scheduled conference workshops include discussions on  effective mentoring, eliminating the AIDS pandemic, influencing  education policy, Health & Wellness Programs & Policies, and  balancing family with work and volunteerism. Keynote speakers include  the CEO & Chairman of Wells Fargo, John Stumpf, renowned motivational speaker Sekou Andrews, public figures from the State of California and long-time international sponsors.And while in the Bay Area, the organization will collectively leave its mark on Oakland with the Community Empowerment Project on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at McClymonds High School from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  This year the 100 will offer free workshops and activities for youth  and families: financial education, health and fitness sessions,  and  literacy reading circles, just to name a few. "It is great that the host  chapters have the support of the entire organization for big projects  like this that make such a difference in lives of so many" says Dr. Mark Alexander, President of 100 Black Men of the Bay Area.

The annual conference also includes programming for mentees, like  workshops on college admissions, the effects of hip-hop imagery and  steps to reaching financial goals. Every year there are youth  competitions including the State Farm Dollars & $ense Financial Portfolio Competition, which tests their financial acumen, and the African American History Challenge, also presented by State Farm. Both competitions provide opportunities for mentees to win scholarships.

Ron Brown, president of the Silicon  Valley chapter says, "The annual conference was historically only for  members, but over the years has expanded to engage our mentees and the  public on a deeper level. Of course, we want to inspire them with  informative programs, but we hope they have a little fun in the  process."

Hip-hop trailblazer Doug E. Fresh,  jazz chanteuse Ledisi, and R&B legend Alexander O'Neal will provide  entertainment for conference attendees, as well as a special surprise  chart-topper.

The annual conference kicks off the fiscal year and serves to define  the organization's goals and objectives. At last year's conference,  Chairman of the Board Albert E. Dotson, Jr. issued an executive order  calling for greater community outreach.  As a result, the 100's  membership topped 10,000 and more than 100,000 youth were engaged  internationally over the last year. The 25th anniversary is a landmark  that will be celebrated throughout the week, while remembering to focus  on the future and progression of the mentoring movement.

"Our first 25 years have been rewarding on many levels and I look forward to the years to come," says Chairman Dotson.

ABOUT 100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICAN, INC.:

100 Black Men was founded as an organization in New York City  in 1963. The national organization, 100 Black Men of America, Inc.,  began with nine chapters in 1986 as a national alliance of leading  African American men of business, public affairs and government with a  mission to improve the quality of life for African Americans,  particularly African American youth. Today, under the direction of Albert E. Dotson, Jr., the organization has 116 chapters in the United States, England and the Caribbean.  The 100 serves as an international coalition focused on creating  educational opportunities, promoting economic empowerment, addressing  health disparities and creating positive mentoring relationships.