Three pathways.
One mission.

Mentoring, education, and empowerment programs designed to meet students where they are.

mentor with students

Saturday Academy

Saturday Academy is the 100 Black Men of Syracuse’s flagship youth enrichment program. It follows three tracks based on grade levels. The program creates a documented pipeline of engaged young people with measurable skill development, and its graduates become natural candidates for the organization’s scholarship program.

A man and several young men gather around a laptop, focused on the screen together

Future 100

Future 100 is designed to introduce high school students grades ten, eleven, and twelve, to diverse workforce opportunities and offer college admittance guidance. Additionally, Future 100 recruits professionals in our community who conduct interactive workshops.

Life skills for mentees are developed through lessons in black history as well as the history of 100 Black Men of Syracuse; leadership; community service; public speaking; health and well-being; and financial literacy.

Future 100 leverages the organization’s existing partnerships with the Onondaga County Public Library system and the Downtown YMCA of Central New York, volunteer leadership from dedicated chapter members, and nationally available curriculum materials.

Mentees also benefit from group projects, field trips, workshops, and paid internships

two students holding a bag of apples

STEP 1 Mentoring

STEP-1 (Strength, Tenacity, Endurance & Pride) is a dynamic and impactful initiative designed for mentees in grades seven, eight, and nine. STEP-1 places youth engagement at the forefront, operating under the belief that “They Can’t Grow If They Don’t Know.”

Pressing issues impacting mentees’ lives are addressed through interactive programming, group discussions, purposeful field trips, and current event reviews. Additionally, mentees benefit from presentations led by experienced educators and outside professionals.

We provide a comfortable, non-judgmental environment, allowing mentees an outlet to speak their mind. STEP-1 offers mentees experiences not provided in a purely academic setting.

Youth Empowerment Program

Our Youth Empowerment Program, affectionately known as YEP, serves mentees in grades three through six, providing educational experiences that boost academic knowledge in a fun and entertaining way. YEP offers group interaction and involvement through activities, such as STEM projects, field trips, healthy cooking, and public speaking and leadership skill building.

Special Note

All Saturday Academy program components are conducted in person and follow the Syracuse City School District school calendar. Tuition is free for enrolled mentees.