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<\/p>\n\u201cAs exciting as it was, we know that there\u2019s still a lot of need to support the young superheroes in our communities everywhere,\u201d Black Superhero Bootcamp founder Charles Coleman Jr. said.<\/p>\n
About three dozen middle school students gathered earlier this month at the Brownsville Community Middle School, learning to lead, regulate their emotions, explore careers and build the kind of confidence that doesn\u2019t show up in a report card.<\/p>\n
Black Superhero Bootcamp, founded by civil rights attorney Charles Coleman Jr., brought together students from Brooklyn\u2019s District 23 for a day of workshops, fitness training and life-skills programming. Sponsored by the nonprofit CFC40 and supported by the New York City Department of Education, the April 11 event was designed to provide Black middle school boys with a space built for them as they approach the end of the academic year, according to a news release.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlack Superhero Bootcamp is about showing our young people that leadership, resilience, and self-care are skills they can practice every day,\u201d Coleman Jr. said. \u201cWe created a space where students could build confidence, learn tools to manage their emotions, and see themselves as problem-solvers and leaders in their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coleman has an extensive history in youth mentorship. He previously founded and led EDGE Movement NYC, a mentoring program for Black and Latino boys, and, in 2019, the Black Superhero Project, coordinating 10 service projects across the country. The Black Superhero Bootcamp expands on years of his community service, transforming mentorship into actionable programs for youth, the new release states.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The day began with breakfast and continued with a series of workshops and sessions, including leadership and voice-building exercises that helped students identify their strengths and practice public speaking; life skills sessions focused on decision-making, goal-setting and conflict resolution; a session on turning passion into a profession, where students learned about filmmaking and what it takes to become a professional DJ; and physical fitness training and a yoga session emphasizing emotional regulation and mindfulness.<\/p>\n
Malcolm Walker, a New York University graduate student studying film, was excited to lead a workshop that helped attendees see themselves differently in media.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a beautiful way to join together as a collective in uplifting these young men and teaching them about themselves before they have to go out into the real world and experience it on their own,\u201d Walker said, according to the news release.<\/p>\n
Other volunteer mentors shared their experiences at the Black Superhero Bootcamp, highlighting their unique superpowers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here today because I really think I need to do more to push the needle forward,\u201d Jason Bostic, a junior at Columbia University in psychology and a minor in African American studies, said. \u201cI think a lot of times we get caught up in our day-to-day life, and I think the younger generation is the real people that\u2019s gonna push the needle forward when we\u2019re no longer here, so we gotta inspire the youth and let them know that they could do it as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued, \u201cI think my Black superhero power is just simply being Black. I think when you\u2019re Black, you experience the world and different things in different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gardier Yepimu Dromas Christian, a life-fitness accountability coach, is community-driven and wants not only to better himself but also to help younger generations \u201cnot just survive, but excel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here because I want to help the youth be better than I am, be better than I was when I was their age. I want to help the community,\u201d Christian said.<\/p>\n
He continued, \u201cMy superhero power is perseverance. I\u2019m gonna push through, I\u2019m gonna keep going. I [might] lack sleep, and be like, stay up, get it done until it gets done, like there\u2019s no quit in me.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the Black Superhero Bootcamp continues to grow, Coleman hopes to expand the initiative even further by hosting pop-ups in other cities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we did today is hopefully just the beginning,\u201d Coleman said. \u201cAs exciting as it was, we know that there\u2019s still a lot of need to support the young superheroes in our communities everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
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