Atiba Jones spoke with MANA about the SAVE Institute’s mission and the formula he’s developed in his on-going efforts to help Black boys and young men reach their full potential.
What is the SAVE Institute Mission?
SAVE Institute is fighting to SAVE Black male youth from cycles of poverty, crime, incarceration and lack of purpose through engagement in service, agriculture, vocational training and entrepreneurship.
History of SAVE Institute
The Save Institute is entering its third phase. In the first two-year phase SAVE Institute developed weekend outreach programs that included classes and trainings, camping trips, retreats, and workshops. After two years, there was enough momentum and funding to establish the SAVE Institute full time high school. With your support, the SAVE Institute is poised to begin its third phase of programing by adding a full-time junior high school. Enrollment is open.
Finding a Formula to Save Black Boys
SAVE Institute Founder, Atiba Jones explains that the SAVE Institute programming is built on a formula that he devised based on his own research, education and travel.
The early stages of the SAVE Institute were spent developing the “SAVE” formula—a formula to save Black boys and young men from the destructive path laid out for them. This was something that I had been searching for over the years—what were the best possible tools to utilize for youth development? Not just any youth development but specifically development for our youth–Black youth. This is my focus. And so, over the years, along with education, I continued my research and observation in an effort to find a formula of the most effective tools for positive development of Black youth. What my research and observation yielded was a formula that pinpointed the four elements of the most effective tools I’d uncovered.
The Formula
SAVE = Service + Agriculture + Vocational Training + Entrepreneurship
Service is a key to the SAVE formula. Involving young people in all types of service to the community—humanitarian service, local service, national and international service in its many forms helps youth to develop commitment to service and a sense of belonging. The agricultural component grew out of exposing young people to nature—outdoor camping, fishing, hiking—activities that allowed them to see themselves in the context of nature. Later, when I discovered agriculture as a tool, I noticed that young people were not only able to receive the benefits of interacting with nature, but other benefits like being able to grow food for ourselves and our community and to make money from doing it. This also led to more healthy lifestyles and healthier eating. Vocational training—getting young people involved in learning trades–can be life changing as a viable alternative to the streets, drugs and crime. With training they actually have a skill that they make an honest living from. The importance of learning entrepreneurship is that it not only provides economic opportunity—its also an opportunity for young people to really to change the perception that they have of themselves. Being able to run their own businesses gives them a level of confidence in themselves that other things won’t. It even changes other people’s perception of them as they’re able to stand up in front of people and introduce themselves as the founder and CEO of their own companies.
Please help this important effort to continue and grow. Donate now!
Donate to The SAVE Institute: www.thesaveinstitute.org/donate
Enrollment is open for SAVE Institute’s junior and high school.
Learn more about The SAVE Institute: https://www.thesaveinstitute.org
Atiba Jones
Founder of SAVE Institute
Atiba is a youth advocate with a passion and dedication to bettering American society by uplifting and empowering under-served youth. He has worked with youth in various capacities, including schoolteacher, mental health counselor, program director, school leader, urban farmer and spoken-word poet. He has worked with youth of all ages locally and internationally.
Atiba holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College, as well as a master’s degree in educational leadership. Atiba is also a Certified Anger Management Specialist, Certified Life Coach, as well as a Certified Journeyman Farmer. Atiba is the founder and Executive Director of SAVE Institute, a nonprofit organization working to save Black male youth from cycles of poverty, crime, incarceration, and lack of purpose; through engaging them in service, agriculture, vocational training and entrepreneurship.
Help Atiba continue his important work with a donation today!Donate to The SAVE Institute: www.thesaveinstitute.org/donate
