Welcome to home page of the Walnut Street YMCA Black Achievers.
The Black Achievers Program was created to instill values honesty, caring, responsibility and pride. It is also to recognize the accomplishments of talented and committed African-American men and women for their unheralded successes in business and the community. It pairs minority high school youth with successful adult achievers who, through volunteer service, serve as mentors and role models providing educational, cultural and career guidance.

LeVar Burton, television star of the landmark miniseries Roots, host and executive director of the acclaimed PBS children’s television series Reading Rainbow, and a cast member of Star Trek, will give the keynote address.

Click here to read the 2010 Black Achievers Beacon Newsletter

Untitled
by Jade Hendrix
Their black and their achievers
Yea they made it
Made it to what?
Well don’t you know?
Never mistook it
To be a part of us
A part of them
Is pretty cool
Coming every Saturday
Keeps me going back to school
So I keep on coming every single weekend
Keeping me alive
Black achievers
Keeps me breathing…

What I learned
by Shannon Marshall
Black achievers teaches a new way to talk
A new way to walk
Also a way to speak out loud
A way to lead and be proud
How to get new friends
And to teach how friendships mend
The broken bones of life and how to give people a hand
To get their life together and to keep if their forever

My temporary parent
by Lavay Glynn
Parents here for helping
6 years past you’ve been my help
Here sitting listening to poetry
When the back in my mind I think about you and me
How will I go when I reach success?
I always came here to release my stress
Shape me make me
That’s what you did
Now as I walk the streets
I stand as a confident outspoken young man
I remember when I couldn’t even speak and stand
But because of my temporary parent I say today
I’m so blessed that you’ve helped me find my way.

Untitled
by Dawn Payne
A strong black woman
Virtuous in her own way
Focused in her right mind
Determined to succeed
Determined to be….
What God has destined her to achieve
A smile that illuminates a room
Confidence that could never be demolished by insecurities
Radiance of a queen
Born to lead nations
Full of knowledge and eager to learn more
A woman who is true to herself
And walks in God’s light
Is a Black Achiever

Black Achiever Program Corporate Sponsors