“Every cloud has a silver lining.” 

At the end of any sorrow filled story, there is usually some comforting lesson to be learned. Some positive outcome to help us move forward. This is especially true of the founding of a homegrown community organization, created from a devastating event. 

 In November, 2003, 8-year-old Daesean Hill was struck down by a stray bullet on his way home from school in East New York, Brooklyn. After this tragic incident, local activist Andre T. Mitchell and other concerned citizens came together to discuss solutions to the senseless violence. As they saw it, it was time for them to “Man Up!” and take control of their community. And so, Man Up! Inc. was born.

Making a Difference

Since then, initially backed by state funding, Man Up has been actively promoting peace in the streets, and the advancement of residents in East New York. 

Now, some twenty  years later, operating as a non-profit funded by donations, the organization functions throughout New York State to support communities in need. Man Up also works within the school system to mentor students who can benefit from the experience of older men of color. And for the remainder of this school year, Man Up is in the Springfield Gardens complex partnering with Queens Preparatory Academy and Excelsior Preparatory High School to do what they do best.

Brother Thomas, Brother Marlon, Brother Fedon, and Brother Andrew are all part of the Man Up crew assigned to the Springfield Gardens complex. Raised in the neighborhood of Brownsville, East New York, they all had a rough up-bringing in that environment plagued by crime and violence. “I’ve had many hardships going through childhood,” Brother Thomas explains. “I would like to give students a Cheat Code  to stop them from going  through the things that I went through.” 

QPA’s principal Tashon Haywood welcomes their involvement and believes they will make a major difference in our school. “Man-up offers our scholars a culturally responsive safe space to be themselves, and discuss issues that matter to them. Through the partnership, our scholars are empowered to constructively respond to conflict or societal pressures.” She believes the goal of this partnership is student transformation, and the nurturing of leadership here at QPA.

Man Up strives to maintain the safety of our communities and improve the lives of the people within them. They not only mentor students and guide them to a better path, but also provide emotional support to those in need.

Welcome Support

Dean Hargrove, Director of QPA’S Brotherhood, an enduring support mechanism for our school’s young male leaders, explains that Man Up is not only helpful to students, but to him as well. “I know I can’t reach everyone, and now we have a better chance of preventing our young people from falling through the cracks. It’s what we want for our school, especially a small school community like ours.” 

As he sees it, “When these brothers enter the building, the environment changes dramatically. Their presence has a powerful impact on our students. Even their uniforms—the jackets they wear—are attractive to young people and force them to take notice. It calls them to be part of something bigger than themselves. I’m thankful they’re a part of the school community, because they will be able to reach students I can’t, and I’m cool with that.”

The organization’s mentors—like Brother Prince who has been supporting students as a part of Man Up for over 15 years—have come to QPA to make their presence felt and ensure students stay on the right path. Some of their duties involve preventing student altercations,  helping students stay in class, providing guidance and advice, and supporting them with a safe pathway home. 

Help at Hand

Some examples of their impact on our community involve mentors giving students the opportunity to realize their potential in addition to helping de-escalate situations. According to Brother Fedon, “There are students who don’t believe in themselves or their goals and potential, but we can help them realize that potential.” 

With escalating violence in our communities, Man Up is able to not only protect students but also help de-escalate fights and other harmful situations to provide a safer environment for a number of urban areas. 

“If you need help, just ask for help. Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak,” Brother Andrew shares. As he sees it, for most young people asking for help is being vulnerable, which they try to avoid. However, Man Up encourages young people to reach out when they need it. The organization also provides assistance to students in need of encouragement. “We want to motivate young people to achieve their goals,” shares Brother Andrew. 

Supporting Student Effort 

With what they bring to the table, most consider the Man Up presence in the building a win, win. They can prevent violence and change the way some young people deal with conflict. And QPA teachers admit their timing couldn’t be better. With Regents exams rapidly approaching, many students are in need of motivation to stay on track. Science teacher Ms. Piil describes Man Up’s mission as “purposeful and admirable.” She notices that “their presence results in more consistent attendance, which will help students learn the skills they need to succeed on their regents.”

Math teacher Ms. K. Robinson does her best to ensure her students are adequately prepared for upcoming exams. However, she admits fluctuation in attendance can be frustrating. “Attendance has increased significantly for some students since Man Up has been monitoring the hallways” she shares. “They allow teachers to focus on what’s happening in the classroom.”

English teacher Ms. Fitz agrees. “Lately I’ve noticed some students have been attending classes more consistently,” she recalls. “And they seem more mature and responsible.” She’s certain student exposure to Man Up will be transferred to their school work,  resulting in stronger grades and strong regents scores.

Seeing the Difference

Man Up’s presence is valued equally among  administrative staff and QPA students. According to junior Jaheem Morris, “These young men have an important job in our beloved school. They can prevent fights so that Springfield students won’t get hurt. They can also be great role models for students to follow their example and learn to protect others from danger.” 

These sentiments are shared by QPA sophomore Clayton Walker. “Some students need a father figure to pave the way for them,” he claims. “Oftentimes, students may feel bad about telling parents certain things and it’s helpful to have another adult to turn to. They can change the way some young people deal with conflict and resolve issues.”

Naturally, a high school filled with teenagers cannot be expected to be absolutely problem free. Conflicts will brew and students will continue to need assistance. Over the years, guidance counselor Lashawna Edwards has been the go-to person for QPA scholars. “Man-Up is an excellent support for our students,” she admits. “They use mediation to help students deal with conflict. They also use restorative circles to ensure students feel heard and seen.”

So, we have the evidence, and the conclusions are clear. This social service agency is already making a difference in our building. We’re lucky to have them supporting scholars academically, socially and emotionally here at Springfield. Their presence will definitely help QPA students ‘MAN UP!’