The Urban Leadership Institute, Residential After School Programs, and the Institute for Interactive Instruction, along with several community partners, hosted the Raising Him Alone Kickoff, with support from the Open Society Institute.
Designed to provide support and advocacy for single mothers raising boys of color, the Raising Him Alone campaign focuses on creating safe spaces for mothers to discuss parenting strategies, personal development, financial management on a single income, and a variety of other topics determined by single mothers themselves.
The campaign kickoff hosted a panel of celebrity mothers who have raised highly successful sons. Panelists included Brenda Greene, professor at Medgar Evers College and mother of Talib Kweli; Mahalia Hines, retired Chicago public school principal and mother of actor/rapper Common; and Sheron "Umi" Smith, mother of actor and rapper Mos Def. The panel was hosted by mother/actress/comedienne Meshelle.
Other featured speakers included Mildred Crump, president of Newark City Council; noted educator and principal of Newark Tech High School, Baruti Kafele; Joel Austin, founder of Daddy University; and Kenneth Braswell, director of the New York State Fatherhood Initiative.
The Newark kickoff also featured a resource fair, hosting numerous organizations dedicated to serving mothers and sons, and various workshops throughout the day, covering a range of parenting topics.