Change Agents for Children & Community

Hollywood created the “Men in Black” movies, but two men in Little Rock have started their own effort to save the world from a number of ills that have become all too familiar in the African American community. Wayne Burt and Maurice Shabazz are the “agents” behind the mentoring program, Mentors In Black-ness (MIB). Agent Wayne has more than 20 years of experience in gang intervention while Agent Shabazz traces his commitment to years of community development and volunteer work for the prison system. Both are motivated by statistics indicating that nearly 50 percent of all Black males will be arrested by their 23rd birthday, and seven percent of all African American babies are born to girls under the age of 18. The Village Celebration recently interviewed the MIB agents.

TVC: Whose idea was it to create a mentoring group of this magnitude to mentor Black children, especially teenagers?

Agent Maurice: First and foremost, the idea came from Wayne. We were already working together in an alternative school environment. He suggested that we take what we were already doing to the next level. That’s how we got started. We currently are working on some other ideas that would move our community forward as it relates to the current state of our young people around the nation and around the world.

TVC: Describe MIB’s curriculum and its focus on empowering Black children.

Agents Wayne and Maurice: Our modules allow us to dig deep into the root of the problem. We connect with the students right where they are currently — in the mind. We have confirmed that the original mind has been corrupted. Therefore, our job is to set students on a course to restore the original mind. Which means to show them how they have arrived at their current condition. The goal is to increase … awareness of … the current state of hip-hop, [the] Black family, [the] education system, male and female relationships, [the] economy, and our glorious Black History.

TVC: Do you both think MIB will change the mindset, values, and consciousness of Black children and inspire them to become educators, entrepreneurs, engineers, grassroots activists, politicians, scientists, computer scientists, physicians who work toward improving the infrastructure of Black America?

Agents Wayne and Maurice: Our goal is to provide that data in the future. We have seen the system work on a trial basis in an environment that we did not have total control [over] at that time. However, now that we are in control, we will see our product manifest and show its full potential. Our product is not magic, but it’s able to bring about transformation through the renewing of the mind of our students. We also have a module in our program that deals with parents. We have found most children reflect their parents or environment. The parents or guardians are key to the success of the students.

TVC: How important is it to get Black men involved in MIB? Tell us about the training to become an agent?

Agents Wayne and Maurice: We have to train them in our strict regimental curriculum in our MIB camp. They will have to internalize our complete program. We will then graduate them and place them as MIB agents in our program.

TVC: What is the ultimate goal for MIB?

Agents Wayne and Maurice: The goal is to restore the original mind in our students in this country and all around the world.