What are you doing to lead others and to help the community, and what have been the results of your actions?

Simply put i and a handful of others have been educating at risk youth on the importance of Prison & Death prevention by way of showing them exactly what their future holds if they choose to stay on the wrong path. In February 2011 along with Mic Tabon (God's Love At Work inc. and Terry Starks (Expressurself) I helped build makeshift prison cell. "19th & Hunigton Park Ave. 28 day Prison & death fast" is what we called it .We reached over 3,000 families in which 1,000 still keep contact today about progress in their lives. We were granted school visits, juvenile facilities etc. Rallied and won The "Band the box" legislature with Donna Reed Miller's office to allow ex offenders to have a fair chance of employment in Philadelphia. Now an outreach worker to help reduce shootings and killings in 22nd 23rd police district by mentoring high risk youth & community mobilization etc.

Choose the project category or categories:
Brief summary of the community issue or opportunity the project will address:

There is a growing concern across the nation about the “disconnect” between youth, especially African-American males, and their communities. This is especially true in North Philadelphia, which leads the city in violent crime, high school drop-out rates, and unemployment. While much attention has been given to these facts, less has been given to another devastating reality – the lack of cohesion and civic engagement between its residents and youth. I see this need as an opportunity to connect North Philadelphia’s young people with adults and seniors in positive new ways.

State how the project will work – the activities and timeline:

The objectives of I THINK are to increase understanding, engagement, and community-building of young men ages 14-25 with community residents, especially seniors. I THINK TANK: Two male students - one motivational and one “at-risk” -- will be selected from each neighborhood school (Dobbins, Fitzsimons, Vaux, Strawberry Mansion, High School of Engineering and Science, Boone-Camelot Academy and OIC Youthbuild) to serve on the I THINK TANK. This group will meet twice a month to discuss individual, school, and community concerns. Each member will recruit a school adviser, 15 school volunteers, and 10 community members to form a team for each school. Volunteer students will train them how to conduct surveys with classmates, community members, and businesses to document issues of interest and areas of concern. This information – what is most on people’s minds – will be the basis for our work. I THINK will be implemented in three phases: 1. Understand the community – interviews (months 1-4) a. Recruit school sponsor and volunteers b. Develop brochure, Facebook page c. Conduct interviews d. Meet one new neighbor a week/ visit once a month e. Visit senior centers weekly 2. Engage the community – projects (months 4-7) a. Coordinate quarterly community projects b. Identify business sponsor(s) c. Design I THINK t-shirts, hats, gel bands, buttons d. Sell items to sustain program and develop business experience 3. Build the community - I THINK Summit (months 8-12) a. Reports on lessons learned/progress b. Show video-taped interviews c. Share community resources d. Participate in line dancing with the stars (Seniors) e. Perform - musical talent (Youth) f. Special guest speakers from North Philadelphia

State the results you wish to achieve:

a. Neighbors will become more engaged with youth. b. Participants will increase their understanding of each other. c. New student leaders will emerge from the I THINK TANK group. d. Disconnected youth will recognize and identify supportive adults within their community and schools. e. Over 100 volunteers will work monthly on community projects. f. Seniors will become less fearful of neighborhood youth. g. Schools, businesses, and parents will become more engaged in neighborhood and school activities. h. A mural that symbolizes the project will be planned for the neighborhood. i. I THINK will be sustained with resources from businesses and revenue from I THINK products.

Choose the project category or categories:

up to $50,000

Who is leading the project? State the name of the person or the project team:

I (Brandon T. Jones) will chair the steering committee, which will include two youth, two block captains, and two seniors. Administrative support will be provided by the I THINK community coordinator

How will the project engage others in this issue or opportunity affecting the community?

The I THINK TANK members will engage other youth through social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) to educate and build momentum around the project. A prize will be awarded to the school team deemed most effective in engaging youth with their community. The I THINK TANK will determine the award criteria and select the prize. All teams will be publicly recognized for their work. I THINK will be introduced to area youth organizations, such as the Philadelphia Youth Commission, Youth Action, and others, to gain their participation and support. Our community coalition group (meets monthly) will support the project and model participation. Special presentations will be made to seniors from the Martin Luther King Senior Center in North Philadelphia and throughout the area, soliciting their participation and support. The group will also solicit a local media sponsor to aid in crafting a message for the project and disseminating it via radio, TV, Facebook, etc. The I THINK TANK members will develop a brochure and introduce the program to homeroom classes in schools, at area community and senior centers, and at local mosques and churches. An I THINK design/logo will be duplicated on t-shirts, buttons, hats, gel bands and other items and sold to sustain the project.