I became aware of the Alliance of Concerned Men several years ago when I was the United States Deputy Attorney General. They have proven to be an effective tool in Washington, DC in reducing the level of crime in the areas where it operates.
Beyond that (has been successful) in raising hope in those areas in helping people turn their lives around. A lot of people focus on crime rates and that's important. From my perspective, a better measurement of success for an organization is what you do to raise people up. They devote their time, devote their money and give their lives often in order to help young people.
U.S. Attorney General Salutes ACM, July 2010.
I have great respect for the Alliance. I’ve seen the miracle they’ve brought. It needs to be duplicated. It can work in New York, Detroit, Los Angeles, and any other community in America with similar problems.
-Eric H. Holder, Jr., Former Deputy U.S. Attorney General
The residents of the nation's capital greatly benefit from the citizen-initiated efforts of the Alliance of Concerned Men in many areas of our civic life. The Alliance's work in producing, 'Preserving Life and Intervening in Crises in our Communities,1 is a particularly valuable contribution to efforts to reduce crime and gang activity among young people. I believe this short but indispensable book contains many ideas that other communities, too, will find valuable.
-Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) on behalf of her Commission on Black Men and Boys
I came in contact with the Alliance of Concerned Men when I dropped out of school to attend GED classes with the SSI program. I was informed about ACM from my peers who attend the GED program. I was at a low point in my life because I had nothing. I had no job, no education, and most of all I had no guidance from a male figure on how a man should be in life. Being affiliated with ACM I have received employment through partnership with Department of Employment Services. Also I have the benefit of working with youth at the same point where I was in life. The ACM has changed my life by helping me to become a civilized adult. I started with no high school diploma or GED and finish with a high school diploma, and a job. The ACM has also changed my way of thinking in reference to life and making critical decisions.
-Ivan Cloyd
I came in contact with the Alliance of Concerned Men through a former journalist who I supervised as an editor at the Washington Afro Newspaper. I had just completed a fellowship with President Barack Obama when he was on the campaign trail. I was at the point in my life where I wanted to take what I learned and to give back in some way to the youth and community. ACM has transformed my life in several ways. I have a positive depiction of Black men that represent both struggle, triumph and leadership. I am able to work in a professional environment where I truly feel like I am giving back to the community and more importantly to the youth. Most importantly I am able to utilize my gifts and talents to help build the future of an organization and the world that I live in.
-Brandi Forte
I first came in contact wit the ACM, while I was incarcerated in Lorton, Virginia. The ACM had a program called the Concerned Father’s, which I became involved in. When I became involved with the ACM I was not sure what direction my life was going in. I know that I needed to change but I needed help in finding the right way to go and where to go. Through the ACM I was able to see my children, and my family members. They provided me with help to understand my role as a father to my children, husband to my wife and son to my mother. I was better able as well to understand my relationship with God and what his purpose for me was intended. I learned most importantly the value of my life and the value of a person life. ACM has transformed my life in away that there are no words. I have been afforded they opportunities to talk to young men and women to let them know, that even though they have made some mistakes in their lives, they can change and give back to their community. You can show everyone even through you may have been incarcerated you still have something to give to your fellow man.
-Jeffrey Sledge
I was introduced by The Abridged Concerned Fathers program while I was incarcerated at the Lorton, penitentiary in Virginia. I was in transition learning how to be a better man and father. The ACM were my mentors during a standstill point in my life and they were very instrumental with connecting me to my children when I was unable to. The ACM has transformed my life in various ways, the one transformation was being able to leave my past behind and to not revisit it for any reason. ACM has enabled me to become a mentor to other men and women who are not sure of what path to choose. For the past 11 ½ years, ACM has allowed me to give back to the community in the best possible way and for this I am truly grateful.
-Charles E. Gantt
