Have you ever thought about publishing your own book? Or better yet, have you ever read a book published by a group of young African-American males, looking to educate and enhance the community?
There are published booklets available within the city; each written by the young men of Pittsburgh and free of cost.
Approximately 117 African-American males between the ages of 12-18 have participated in a program called, Crossing Fences since 2012. They have documented the lives of 103 exemplary African-American men among our very own neighborhoods.
“The whole idea for this project came about for three major reasons,” said Multimedia Specialist of SLB Radio Productions Chanessa Schuler. “The lack of positive male role models, to mentor the young Black males of the community, and to provide our young generation with the opportunities and possibilities they felt were not available to them by exposing them to successful African-Americans who beat the odds and can relate to them.”
Over the past few years SLB Radio Productions, sponsored by The Saturday Light Brigade, works with a different group of males every summer compiling information to formulate booklets. Every summer SLB Radio Production chooses 2-3 predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city of Pittsburgh, and the young male participants engage in an intense week of conducting interviews and collecting information on the African-American males who are being featured in the stories.
During the Crossing Fences Program, the young men schedule interviews with the men being featured in the booklet, and interview the men for 30-45 minutes. The young men get an opportunity to act as a reporter/writer asking questions about their background, upbringing, birthday, reflections, and career path.
The participants are given recorders to properly hold the interview, and they receive Kindle Fires at the end of the program. Young men of all neighborhoods have participated in Crossing Fences; the youngest participant was 10 while the oldest was 22 years of age.
“I enjoy being a part of the Crossing Fences Program more and more each year, because its such a rewarding experience,” Schuler said. “This annual program is an introduction to hope, because it opens the door for possibilities. The young men get an opportunity to connect with positive male role models, enhance critical thinking skills, learn soft skills, and learn about technical components such as; radio production.”
Every year throughout the term of formulating the booklets, networking parties are scheduled to give the male participants and those who are featured in the stories an opportunity to celebrate the publication of the booklet, and enjoy one another’s company. The young learn how to network, and get to know one another in a professional setting.
The third Crossing Fences booklet has been released featuring men of East Liberty Voices, Sto-Rox Voices, and Wilkinsburg Voices.
The Program and booklets have been successful over the years. The African American Men and Boys Initiative of the Heinz Endowment Fund, funds the program annually, and plans to fund the program for two more years. SLB Radio Productions felt the Heinz Endowment Fund was a perfect fit to partner with them for this project, because they recognized the value of Black males.
“Starting this program, I was shocked by the amount of young men who were unable to identify a positive Black role model they had in their life or came into contact with,” Schuler said, “I’m proud to say that, those same young men left our program with a new answer, and able to identify Black men who exemplify greatness.”
The booklets are available for free, and if interested in receiving a copy visit the SLB Radio Productions mainstream website, www.slbradio.org or contact via email slb@slbradio.org.
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