100 Black Men of Tallahassee Awarded for Helping Keep Neighborhoods Safe

100 Black Men members enjoyed cake and punch after the award ceremony.

Administration and members of the 100 Black Men gathered for a photo after being awarded by Mayor Andrew Gillum. Photos by Nadia Felder

By Nadia Felder
Outlook Writer

Tallahassee has been facing issues with high crime and youth violence but some members of the community have been actively helping to put these issues to an end and were recently given recognition for their efforts by Mayor Andrew Gillum.

 
On Sept. 15 at City Hall, Gillum stood at the podium and presented a certificate of appreciation to local organizations for their contribution to the Neighbors on the Block program. Operated under the Safe Neighborhoods Action, the program is a community-wide response to the rising crime in Tallahassee, with a motive of empowering citizens to take back their community.

 
“Over 300 members from all over the community and over 24 organizations, answered the call to establish a safe presence and meaningful dialogue in over 10 different neighborhoods,” Gillum said. “The city understands that effective change would not be possible without the aid of Neighbors on the Block participants and overall engagement and commitment from all facets of our community.”

 
The first to be granted the award was the 100 Black Men of Tallahassee, represented by Ronald Joe Sr., president of the 100 Back Men of Tallahassee.

 
Joe mentioned how honored he was to be both a part of such a powerful community project and to be awarded for his organization’s actions.

 
“It was rewarding to get awarded by Gillum and watch his progression as mayor,” Joe said.

 
Joe was a trainer for the organization when Gillum was still a student at Florida A&M University and first became a member of 100 Black Men.

 
“I enjoyed watching him grow through the program,” said Joe. “And now to be given an award by the same man truly makes me feel proud.”

 
The association, also referred to as “The 100,” initially began in New York in 1963, when a group of African-American men explored ways of improving their community. Since then, the program has grown from a group of young Black boys to a nation-wide mentoring brotherhood. Tallahassee’s chapter alone grew from roughly 18 members to now serving over 100 participants.

 
Distributing “safe neighborhoods” brochures and mentoring Black adolescences to maximize their full potentials is only a few ways “The 100” continues to give back to Tallahassee, members say.

 
Alongside the 100 Black Men, were a handful of other organizations such as A.L.A.R.M International Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Psi Upsilon Omega Chapter, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Big Bend Crime Stoppers and many others were also given thanks and presented with the award.