10 Detroit Men Recognized For Extraordinary Leadership Efforts

DETROIT (WWJ) - Ten thousand dollars each will be awarded to 10 Detroit men for their extraordinary leadership efforts in the city.

Black Male Engagement, or BMe — a nonprofit organization aimed at changing the negative perceptions of black men in society — will give out the awards, which will go towards education, mentoring, violence prevention and entrepreneurship programs.

Each year, the BMe Leader Awards are presented with the notion that everyday black men should be acknowledged as assets, who regularly do something to improve the lives of others. They are owners, builders and doers who quietly make a substantial positive impact on society, according to BMe.

Dr. Truman Hudson Jr., Community Manager for BME, shared the success story of one of the recipients..

"One of the gentlemen, he's actually operating a program around youth development where he's teaching teenagers how to address social justice issues through the power of listening and engaging in critical discourse," Hudson told WWJ Newsradio 950's Chrystal Knight.

An additional 20 men outside of Detroit will also receive awards.

See a complete list HERE; and for more information about the 2014 BMe Detroit Leaders program, visit www.bmecommunity.org.