Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club

Mathews-Dickey Celebrates 10th Anniversary of “Malesness to Manhood Workshop Series”

The Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club celebrated Father’s Day weekend with its 10th annual “Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series,” including a college fair, career day and closing church services for area young men on June 19-21.

MOHELA's, Will Shaffner kicking off the college fair.

Keynote speaker Lin Appling addressing the young men at the Career Day.

“Fatherhood is so important to mankind, and our young men growing up today need father figures to help guide them in a direction of success,” said Barbara A. Washington, vice president, public relations & special events, Mathews-Dickey. “We are appealing to the men in our community to reach out to help us stem the tide of the violence and keep our children from falling through the cracks.”

The program commenced with a college fair of 30+ local and national universities and organizations, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, June 19, at Mathews-Dickey, 4245 N. Kingshighway Blvd. Will Shaffner, director, business development & governmental relations, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA), provided opening remarks. The free fair, which was open to the public, also included breakout seminars on “The Financial Aid Process” by Tim Hercules, assistant director, student financial services, Saint Louis University; “College Life” by John Nichols, admissions representative, University of Missouri — St. Louis; and “College Internet Research and ACT Training” by Nathan Moore, senior director, integration development & testing, Centene Corp., and Jermaine Holt, application development supervisor, Sigma-Aldrich Corp.

Lin Appling, author “Be Somebody,” a retired US Army colonel and state government official for the late Gov. Mel Carnahan’s administration, addressed 100+ mentors and their “mentees” at the Career Day, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 20, at the St. Louis Airport Marriot, I-70 at Lambert International Airport.

That same day, concerned businessmen were invited to serve as luncheon partners for young men, ages 12-18. A $100 contribution covered the mentorship fee, which supported educational supplies, college scholarships and field trips. Each young man was encouraged to talk about his aspirations, while the mentor shared the benefit of his work and life experience. A ceremonial exchange of business cards occurred, with future activities voluntary.

Youth participants attended three breakout sessions, starting at 9 a.m.: “Moral Development” by Rev. Vernon Betts, deputy sheriff at the City of St. Louis Sheriff’s Department and minister for Shalom City of Peace, and Rev. LeAndre’ Jordan, minister, Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church; “Welcome to the Hospitality Industry” by Aaron Black, hotel manager, Four Seasons St. Louis; and “Time Management” by Jack Raymond, assistant vice president, Merrill Lynch.

US Federal Judge E. Richard Webber, provided the welcome at 11 a.m., immediately followed by a panel discussion led by ESPN Radio Broadcaster Randy Karraker. The 2009 panelists were:

“The Communication Professional” by Ron “Johnny Rabbit” Elz, host, “Route 66,” KMOX Radio;
“Education: An A+ Career” by Dr. Cleveland Hammonds, Jr., retired superintendent, St. Louis Public Schools;
“Let it Shine: Careers in Energy” by Ray Riddle, manager, metering department, AmerenUE;
“Money Talk: Careers in Accounting” by Michael Hickenbotham, assurance and advisory business services partner, Ernst & Young; and
“Paging the Medical Professional in You” by Lamar Wilkes, admissions counselor, Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing.

Club President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin Mathews and former St. Louis Fire Chief Sherman George presented eight $1,000 college scholarships to graduating seniors: Julian Edwards, Aaron Hunt, Michael Porter, Joshua Wright, Domineke Hinton, Ronald Morton, Eddie Bolden and Kyle Mitchell. The scholarship donors were AmerenUE, Carpenter’s District Council of St. Louis (Ollie Langhorst Memorial), Ernst & Young, LLP, Grice Group Architects, Robert Hensley, Sr. Memorial, Robert Trice Leadership Scholarship, Suburban Journals and Weiss Family Scholarship Fund.

The afternoon of June 20 was filled with cultural field trips, including an excursion to the St. Louis Art Museum with a welcome by Director Brent Benjamin and movie. Club Board Chairman Rev. William G. Gillespie hosted closing services at Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church, at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, June 21.

Mathews-Dickey is a non-profit, 501(c) 3 United Way member agency, which provides educational, recreational and cultural programs for more than 40,000 young men and women annually. For information, call Bill Fronczak at (314) 382-5952, ext. 228, or Washington, at (314) 382-5952, ext. 234.

The 2009 “Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series” scholarship winners and presenters.

Archived:

“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2008
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2007
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2006
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2005
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2004
“Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series“ 2003