Men United For A Better Philadelphia Seeks Real Men

Posted by on July 25, 2003

Wanted: A Few Good Men, To Save Young Men From The Streets
Men United For A Better Philadelphia Seeks Real Men
By D. Michael Blackie
Logan TIMES-Independent,Editor
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/logannews

It’s not the United States Marine Corps, It’s not the Department of Homeland Security, yet their mission is as important, if not more so. Men United For A Better Philadelphia is taking it to the streets and meeting with relative success. “Real Men” are needed to help save young men and offer them a GED, jobs and a future.

The slogan “Brothers Gonna Work It Out” along with the motto of “Let’s Use Our Arms To Embrace each Other Not Erase each Other” sums up the mission of the group. “Our message is come off the corners and we will help you” says Bilal Quayum. Men United takes their mission seriously. In 2002 they visited over 250 street corners and offering endangered young men brother to brother support, a chance to give up the drug corner lifestyle and a real opportunity to live…longer.

Men United started with about 54 men and they are seeking more to become involved. If they ran an ad for help it would read like this: Wanted: Heroes to save young lives. Race, and age unimportant. Must be committed, consistent and caring with a concern for young men and boys to become “real men”.
The murder rate among Black males has reached epidemic proportions recently. Guns and drugs have turned neighborhoods into prisons and young children are caught in the crossfire of bullets from drug related crimes. Men United wants to change all that and give those young people a new lease on life, an ‘early release’ so to speak from of the prison that keeps them down and sometimes leads to an early end to an otherwise valuable life.

Operation safe Streets and Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson endorse Men United and their efforts to organize, block by block, build a support network and educate men through the involvement in positive activities. “Getting involved is giving something back to our communities” they say. And they are looking for more men to get involved. Drugs, guns and violence are “Equal opportunity” offenders cutting across all races, classes and cultures. You don’t have to be poor, or black to be effected by crimes related to drugs and all their affiliated enterprises.

Men United for a Better Philadelphia wants YOU to become involved. Become involved in the heroic act of saving a young life from the grip of death. Block Captains, school groups, and business leaders can offer a real alternative to the streets for thousands of young men in Philadelphia. It starts with a simple call, and it starts with YOU taking action, now, before it’s too late.

To become involved with Men United for a Better Philadelphia, to contribute, volunteer or for a few tips on how to organize your community call Outreach Coordinator, Brother Ra’Sean Bey’ah at 215-236-3372.

Men United is headquartered in The Hatfield House at 3201 W. Girard Avenue. Men United is a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization is affiliated with The Father’s Day rally Committee and under the auspices of The Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition. Sponsors include the Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS). Donations are accepted. Program Director Mark Harrell, MHS.