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ABOUT US
The O.K. Program is a mentor program, which fosters partnerships between police
agencies, schools, students, community members, and the business and faith
community to provide positive guidance and support to African American males
12-18 years old.
The primary goal of the program is to reduce the high rates of incarceration and
homicide of young African American males by guiding them away from prison and
towards college, military service, vocational training, and a life of
responsible citizenship.
Under the guidance of an African American police officer, the program organizes
responsible African American adult males to serve as positive role models and
mentors for their younger counterparts. The adults in the program are called
TEAMMATES, because the O.K. Program is based on a team-mentoring concept. Each
teammate is importance to the team’s success. This concept provides the
organizational structure necessary to allow teammates an opportunity to address
specific issues, as identified in the program goals, which contribute to the
high rates of incarceration and homicide of African American males.
School administrators and teachers play a critical role in the O.K. Program.
Together, administrators and teachers provide a level of support to O.K. Program
coordinators and students that are necessary for the program to be successful.
This support encourages O.K. Students to excel and achieve a high level of
academic excellence. Students in the program receive awards for their efforts,
achievements and successes. Also, an incremental reward system is an important
component for the O.K. Program.
Every Saturday, KIC’IT (Kids Interacting Communicating Immix Teammates) Sessions
brings together O.K. Program coordinators and teammates to tutor and share life
experiences with young African American males. During KIC’IT Session, students
learn that they are responsible for their future. They also learn that they must
always strive for excellence, compete for the best grades, be respectful, seek
to make positive contributions to their families and communities, and are taught
how to interact with police when contacted by an officer.

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