Black Male Leadership Academy
The Black Male Leadership Academy (BMLA) provides opportunities for young men in grades 9-12 who attend Chicago public high schools and schools in the Chicagoland area, to expand their social, cultural and intellectual capital. The St. Clair Drake Center is the home of the BMLA.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Students selected for the Black Male Leadership Academy will include 15 rising high school sophomores and 15 rising high school juniors. The BMLA has two components: the Summer Institute and Second Saturdays. The Summer Institute provides a week-long experience between June and August (please refer to the application for the dates of the current program for 2025), for 30 African American males to live on Roosevelt’s downtown Chicago Campus. Second Saturdays will provide graduates of the Summer Institute with a wide range of college-readiness experiences.
SUMMER INSTITUTE
The Summer Institute will focus on developing intellectual, personal and leadership skills and enhancing students’ exposure to university life. Students will spend time inside the classroom as well as in the community. Each day during the institute, students will attend classes, participate in leadership development activities, and create connections with community leaders.
SECOND SATURDAYS
During the school year, graduates of the Summer Institute will attend a once a month meeting called Second Saturdays, which takes place the second Saturday of each month from September through April. The purpose of Second Saturdays is to continue a connection with the BMLA students and enhance their awareness of and preparation for college. These half-day sessions will be devoted to tutoring, mentoring, field trips and guest speakers. Topics and activities will include career development, mentoring, applying to college, financial aid, ACT preparation, and tutoring.
"I just wish every young man from my neighborhood had an opportunity like BMLA. I know our world would be very different."
Joe Turner
Rising Above
Isiah Sheppard’s award-winning documentary about Roosevelt University’s founding is as much about leadership as it is about history, which isn’t surprising given his participation in the University’s Black Male Leadership Academy (BMLA).
A life-changing experience
"Growing up, I often attended nursing homes with my church, helped run basketball camps at my high school and even traveled to Uganda on a mission trip. But I wanted to do more. That’s when I found the Black Male Leadership Academy (BMLA) at Roosevelt University." - Joshua Hicks
Addressing the Need for More Black Males to Attend College
"The program’s goal is to have all of the young men who participate in this effort complete high school and enroll in a college that is a good fit for them. A major part of the program is a required evaluation of outcomes. It is important to know what happens to these young men, both in the short term and long term." - Bob Johnson
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Albert Bennett
Program Director and Professor of Education and Public Policy
bmla@roosevelt.edu
312-341-3864
Dr. Michael Ford
Program Director and Vice President/Chief of Staff
bmla@roosevelt.edu
312-341-3800
Mr. Corey Williams
Program Director and Associate Provost for Student Affairs
and Dean of Students
bmla@roosevelt.edu
312-341-2016