About the 100 Black Men of Central Illinois

HISTORY OF THE 100 BLACK MEN OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS

In the summer of 2003, a man with an idea to make a difference in a transitional community started organizing meetings in his basement. The man, Arthur Lee Smith, PhD., created a movement that resulted in a plan to establish a local chapter of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. From that point, Dr. Smith began to speak to potential members from various positions in the community. In August 2003, a meeting was held at a local church with members from the 100 Black Men of Chicago in attendance, and the group made the decision. In just a few weeks after that historic meeting, our By-Laws were drafted and later the Articles of Incorporation were filed. In December 2003, the 100 Black Men of Central Illinois, Inc. became an official chapter.
 
The Central Illinois Chapter of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. has grown over the years and continues to be committed to making a difference in the lives of young people, especially young African Americans. One of our programs, the “Mentoring for Life” program, is the corner stone of the good work we do in our community. We are involved with local scholarship programs that award money to the brightest students for continuing education. We also hold an annual health & wellness breakfast and are involved in many community partnerships that support financial literacy and education.
 
The 100 Black Men of Central Illinois truly believe that “What They See Is What they’ll Be”.