The Louisville Chapter is actively working to create corporate, non-profit and community partnerships to help facilitate the economic, educational and social welfare of African Americans in the community in which we live, worship and work. The Louisville Chapter of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. strictly adheres to the policies established by the national organization of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Our fundamental purpose is to develop leaders for the new millennium. Consistent with the national chapter we work within the Kentuckiana Community to achieve the following guidelines through partnerships that we can effectively build through education, corporate sponsorship, mentoring and a variety of agencies and/or organization affiliations. Four key areas of concern of the 100: Education: We firmly believe that in order for a student to compete in this world that all students must have the same educational tools and advantages. The 100 across the United States are working with lawmakers to insure that no inadequacies continue to exist. Mentoring: Chapters of the 100 across the United States have identified students across the United States that are in “Mentoring the 100 Way: all programs must be SMART: •Specific •Measurable •Affective •Realistic •Target Driven Anti-Violence: The goal of the anti-violence committee will be to set local agendas to help understand and curb local violence among African-American youth. It is our hope that through more educational campaigns and after school programs that the trends will in deed continue to turn. Economic Development: We firmly believe that the best way to have an impact on someone’s life is to empower through economic worth. We believe that the trends of violence in our culture go hand in hand with the displaced youth who cannot find suitable employment. On the national and local level the 100 is working with area businesses and local agencies to teach young men job skills and trades to encourage them to achieve their dreams.