Mission Statement:
The Rites of Passage is a manhood training program that uses mentoring, counseling and self-development skills in helping young men transition into adulthood.
At ROP we:
- Improve self-esteem, racial and cultural pride by providing positive values about African- American history and culture.
- Reduce violent encounters among African-American males/females.
- Improve attitude about education so they may pass all their classes by the end of the school term.
- Educate about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, unnatural and promiscuous sex pose to their health.
- Develop and reinforce in initiates a positive concept of African-American manhood/womanhood.
- Reinforce the following values:
- Responsibility to God, family, and community
- Respect for women
- Pursuit of education
- Adherence to positive work ethics
- Respect for cultural diversity
- Teach the initiates that entrepreneurship is a viable career option.