BIRMINGHAM (FinalCall.com) - Over forty years ago thousands of youth took to the streets here to challenge segregation laws enforced by Eugene “Bull” Connor. Those youth, organized by the late Reverend James Luther Bevell, became the force that rekindled the civil rights movement.
On May 30th in the spirit of its 100th birthday celebration, the Metro Birmingham Chapter NAACP took time to remind today's youth of the great sacrifices of many known and unknown trailblazers who made it possible for their current rights and privileges.
The “Torch Bearers and Trailblazers” Youth Achievement Awards Ceremony, held at the Birmingham Museum of Art, was filled with youth of various social, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Tarmarc Abrams, one of the recipients of the Academia/Scholarship Award was nominated by Tracey Muhammad, Founder and Executive Director of Supreme Leadership Youth Academy a non-profit Black male leadership academy based in Birmingham. Tarmarc is a junior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham majoring in Biology/Pre-Med and holds a 3.26 GPA.
According to Mr. Muhammad, in addition to his academic achievement, Tarmarc has a “quiet servant leadership spirit that allows him to achieve his personal academic goals with the objective of serving the underserved at the core of his educational motivation.” The Supreme Leadership Youth Academy began nearly three years ago and, among its mentoring programs, even traveled with some of the students to Africa.
Brother Tarmarc's proud parents, Brother Tarzeen X and Sister Rochelle X were filled with joy and pride as their son received the Academia/Scholarship Award. They thanked Brother Tracey for establishing the SLYA program for youth.
“Tarmarc receiving The Torch Bearers award just shows my husband and I with the help of Allah, what we were able to instill in our children,” said Sis. Rochelle. “This award should help us to further raise the youth of today to be better adults tomorrow.”
“With many of our community leaders in their elder years, there is a need to identify young people and train them to be leaders,” said Rev. Anthony Johnson, co-chair of the Outstanding Youth Achievement Awards Program. “The idea of succession is practiced in the social, religious and political communities. The Birmingham Metro Chapter of the NAACP has recognized the need to train and place talented young people in key leadership positions understanding that in order to learn leadership, you have to be in close proximity of leaders.” Rev. Johnson added.
(To learn more about Supreme Leadership Youth Academy or to order a DVD copy of their cultural and educational tour of Africa, go to www.supremeyouth.org or call 205-223-0869.)
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