To enhance the quality of life for young people within the community through
shaping their minds, instilling values and setting them on a career path for success.

Our Mission ...
To provide educational, social, programs and services to at-risk youth as well as adults that will foster the development of future leaders within the community.

We Believe That ...
Service to humanity promotes brotherhood, sisterhood, and stronger community. Scholarships and education are essential tools to academic, social, and physical achievements. All youth and their families are resourceful, competent and can solve their difficulties with given support. youth and adults have the urge to succeed, to explore the world around them, to learn new things, to have friends, to be taken seriously, and to make themselves useful

Our foremost task is to prepare youth and adults to live successfully and productively in the community and in society.   
The Black's Academy of Excellence is a holistic approach to introducing at-risk young adults to the fields of: Sustainable Agriculture, Creative Activities, Introduction to Hospitality, Horticulture, and First Aid/CPR and Child Development. The training and educational classes will help young adults of ages 13-21 to become self-sufficient, employable and/or become entrepreneurs. Our plan is to continue working with young adults to obtain information and best practices to enhance the success of our organization.

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Resume Writing

Resume Writing

This course provides the basic fundamentals of building a professional and effective resume. It teaches how to learn different resume formats and the advantages and disadvantages of each. We will teach the five golden rules of resume writing. This field also explores the different components that make up a structured resume and Cover Letter.

Culinary Arts

Culinary Arts

This course provides basic culinary arts training giving youth the opportunity to gain real-life kitchen experience. They will learn about the fundamentals of a healthy diet, ingredients and how to create nutritious meals. Students will receive hands-on training with professional chefs, learning to develop and prepare complete meals, resulting in a certification that can be used on job applications and resumes.

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture

This course introduces students to agroecology and permaculture at the macro and micro scales, through both global and local examples. Topics include design, implementation and management of integrated perennial food systems, including orchard and fungi crops. Standards for sustainable soil and water management, organic certification and seed collecting. Sourcing and other key regenerative farming methods will be explored. Crop production plans for multi-year phased growing operations will be emphasized. Harvest, storage and shipping methods to maximize crops sales will also be covered.

Child Development/Creative Activities

Child Development/Creative Activities

This course examines change across three major dimensions: physical, cognitive and psychosocial development. This field involves discussion of child development theory, hands-on experiences in planning and implementing appropriate activities, exchange of ideas, and collaborative strategies. This course also focuses on facilitating creative activities and environments for young children ages 3-8. Experiences in art, music, language arts, science, mathematics, and dramatic/social play will be included.

Intro To Horticulture

Intro To Horticulture

This course introduces students to basic plant taxonomy, terminology and anatomy/physiology as well as the functions/responses of plants. Professions working with the culture and use of plants and applications of plant science will be included.

First Aid/CPR

First Aid/CPR

This course is designed to prepare citizen responders with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to emergency and first-aid situations. First aid, CPR, and AED for adults, children, and infants are included in this course. Students will be eligible to take national certification exams upon successful completion of each respective content area.

Fish Farming

Fish Farming

Youth will learn the principal of fish farming, aquaculture, and other methods of raising fish commercially in tanks and enclosures. A facility that releases juvenile fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species' natural numbers is generally referred to as a fish hatchery. Worldwide, the most important fish species used in fish farming are carp, salmon, tilapia and catfish. There is an increasing demand for fish and fish protein, which has resulted in widespread overfishing in wild fisheries. Fish farming offers fish marketers another source. However, farming carnivorous fish, such as salmon, does not always reduce pressure on wild fisheries, since carnivorous farmed fish are usually fed fishmeal and fish oil extracted from wild forage fish. The global returns for fish farming record

The purpose of this course is to educate the next generation on the importance of bees to our environment and to inspire them to take part in their preservation and conservation. This course introduces the prospective beekeeper to the basics of beekeeping such as honey bee biology, beekeeping equipment, management, honey production and processing. "A golden world of honey bees and beekeeping that will guide their steps into the first spring season."  
bee keeping image
In Loving Memory Of image
MaryAnn was a "born teacher" as an assistant principal described her, and a wonderful woman I loved for 38+ years. You would have loved her too.

My late wife, MaryAnn, taught 25 years in the heart of Chicago’s ghetto, the near West side. She was the best teacher, and disciplinarian in the school, and the results showed it. She had a deal with the principal so she rotated thru the 3 classes and didn’t always get the dregs of second grade. One spring, the principal asked her to take this one specific kid who had been suspended 13 times in first grade, once for throwing a chair at his teacher. He also had a rap sheet with the police as long as your arm. He was making his living carrying the drugs from the dealer to the customer, and bringing the money back!

Remember, he was a 1st grader at that time! Mrs. J spent the whole summer worrying about what she was going to do to keep this kid in line. The first day of school arrived, and as usual she greeted each kid when they came in, asked their name and directed them to find their name label on a desk, and take their seat (a quick way to see if they can READ their name). Von said, "Hi," and found his desk right away. Needless to say it was in the front row. The year progressed and Von was a model student, smart, and did his work without any prodding. Finally, the last day of school arrived and Von's 1st Grade teacher, and Mrs. J's good friend pulled her aside at lunch and said, “I want you to keep Von after school and find out why he was such a hellion last year, and why he has been so good this year for you”. So that is what Mrs. J did. After all the students had left she said, “Ok Von, why were you so bad last year and you have been a model student this year?" He said, “You know, Mrs. J.” She replied, "NO, I don’t know Von, that’s why I am asking you”.  He responded, “You know Mrs. J.” She explained, “No, I don’t know Von, how about you tell me.” He answered, “Everybody knows dem Black teachers don’t know nuttin." She scorned, “Ok Von, thank you and try to have a safe summer”. He was no sooner out the door, than the 1st Grade teacher was in, and she said, “Ok, what was it?” Mrs. J replied, “I don’t want to tell you”. “I think I know," came the reply, "It’s because I’m Black isn’t it?" “Yes,” said Mrs. J., "You nailed it." There were several Black teachers who’s only qualification was the color of their skin, and that reputation spread to all of the Black teachers, regardless of their ability to teach. Mrs. J’s friend wasn’t one of the bad ones. She was the second best teacher to Mrs. J. I’ve probably told this story 50 times, and recently I had a light go on in my head about it. I was telling it to a liberal who had lived with Black people for a long time, and her comment was, “It was too bad that Von didn’t like his race." I countered with, “His view of his race is fine, he just realizes that there are good and bad within it, and he had actually learned to “game the system” that was stacked against him by the liberals of this world. Not bad for a 1st grader!" The Unions only care about getting paid, they don’t give a damn about what they produce. We see it in EVERY inner city where they hold power. They have done more harm to the Black Americans, than Jim Crow ever did. My wife NEVER joined the Chicago Teachers Union, and somehow they never discovered it. She taught there 28 years and never paid union dues. I suspect her friendship with the Union Rep might have had something to do with it.

MaryAnn would have loved the idea you have of using "her place" to help young people. Her spirit will smile down on your efforts, and God will bless you for your efforts. Thank You!

Sincerely,
Earl


  • Juanita Black President/Founder

  • William Bevly

  • Elizabeth Bevly

  • Ayashia Bevly Chief Operation Officer

  • Dr. Robin Amankwah Chairman

  • Zion, Illinois, United States

43055 N. Delaney Rd. Zion, IL 60099

$000

Donation Amount