"Men are the fountain from which all order flows!"
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The Umoja Group
Rebuilding ourselves, our families & our communities
In the late 90’s a few men in Compton, CA inspired by the Honorable Mayor Omar Bradley came together to affect a change in their community. These were no ordinary men by any stretch of the imagination. Most of them were recovering drug dealers and users, reformed hustlers and factions of the city’s notorious crime element. Others had made successful careers and contributed leadership skills to this cause.
They all came together to correct the errors of their ways and make a contribution to the community they had caused so much damage.
This group became known as the “Soul Survivors”. One of the organization’s first project was the Farmer’s Market in Compton. Although the project met resistance, its intentions were honorable. The idea behind the Farmer’s Market project was to introduce and entrepreneurial venue and healthier food choices for local residents as an alternative to the major grocery stores serving their community.
In order to engage this business venture, the Soul Survivor’s decided to incorporate a non profit organization, hence the birth of the Umoja Group. The original mission statement was a commitment to community development. However, over the years we have come to realize that we can’t develop the community without developing the people who make up the community.
With this our mission has been modified to engage activities for community development and economic empowerment. This we believe must be achieved with an emphasis on the restoration of hope in the most powerful component of American society – the African American male. It is our belief that the key to changing and impacting our community is to uplift the black male to his role and responsibility in our communities.
Charter Members
Omari Bakari
Marvin Mabin
Rudolf Forrest
Melvin Mercer (not in photo)
Harold Wesson
Larry Kizzee (not in photo)
Mike Whipple
Eric Cottrel
Jeff Richards
Terry Marshall
Oliver Patterson (not in photo)
Leo Turner
Our initiatives, goals & objectives: undoing the miseducation of black men
The Umoja Group, Inc., is a nonprofit corporation, and was created to foster community development and economic empowerment. Additionally, to promote prosperity in economically disadvantaged households. Our objectives are to establish corporate and community partnerships while developing programs and training to help the family unit succeed.
Our goal is to initiate, develop and promote prosperity in economically disadvantaged communities.
Celebrating ten years, the Umoja Group has finally grown in focus and substance. The Umoja Group has redefined its’ purpose and is poised to have significant impact in the family and community. This will be the thrust of national and international impact as the model created will serve to shape the world as it relates to its African population.
Our research and observation over the past few years have all pointed to a common denominator that seems to constantly be overlooked only to point at other social attributes that have lead to our demise as men in our families and communities.
We concluded that money was not the root of all problems that Black men face today. While the lack of money will hinder family participation, increase crime and create a disparity in health, the denial of adequate education was the main issue that has disrupted and decayed the quality of life for black families.
Our goal is to help Black men return to their greatness. Their greatness is defined by their role in the family and community, being a civic leader and understanding the principles that drive all goodness and wellbeing. But their greatness is suppressed by their “state of invisibility” which is directly connected to substandard education.
Board of Directors | Staff | Projects
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