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 Charles S. "Roc" Dutton and Experts Ignite EMBODI Initiative
by Michelle Brown and Deborah Cuffee
The Fort Worth Alumnae Chapter embraced Delta's new EMBODI initiative by inviting actor, producer and director Charles S. Dutton to join local experts in a discussion of the ever increasing crisis of African-American male youth. Panelists representing the education, faith and the criminal justice communities included Dr. Ernest Thomas, president of Tarrant County College South Campus; Rev. Maverick Gayden, Fort Worth pastor; and Sean Colston, a Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney. The panel discussion was a major highlight of the chapter's 20th Annual Sisterhood Luncheon on Nov. 7, 2009.
Dutton's life story was compelling, and the perfect example to epitomize what EMBODI must address. Reared on the tough streets of East Baltimore, the actor recalled, "In my neighborhood, more guys went to prison than school." That became his reality when at 17, he was sentenced to prison for manslaughter. In a dramatic turnaround, after spending a combined 12 years in reform school and prison, he graduated from an Ivy League drama school and from there achieved stardom on stage and screen. His odyssey gives hope to youth that struggles can be overcome and lives can be saved.
The chapter's Sisterhood Luncheon was host to hundreds, including a large male contingent. Parenting, mentoring, early intervention and faith-based involvement were repeated themes voiced by the panelists. Rev. Gayden admitted "the church must be more transparent" to meet the needs of youth today. Dr. Thomas challenged guests to "begin within your own community, and work outward to enrich all." Tarrant County ADA Colston agreed that youth diversion programs are proven deterrents. But Dutton credits his success to reading the works of playwright August Wilson while in prison and advocates theater arts as an after-school alternative. Using the charter school concept, Dutton also recommended radical changes in how the black community educates its youth by creating African-centric, gender-based boarding schools. He told the audience, including young boys from the Men of Umoja Mentoring Program, they would find "no one on the planet who has achieved anything by not being educated."
Fort Worth Alumnae and Tarrant County College collaborated with Dutton in bringing his autobiographical play, "From Jail to Yale," to Fort Worth following the luncheon that evening. "What I want to do is shed some light into my early life before I found the theatre. This show is my personal journey, how certain events in a prison cell changed my life and thoughts," said Dutton.
Fort Worth Alumnae used the luncheon forum and the positive reception of the EMBODI initiative as springboards to action. The chapter's new EMBODI committee met with several male mentoring organizations for a think-tank to discuss pertinent strategies. As a result, Fort Worth Alumnae recently partnered with UMOJA, which serves African-American males ages 7-15 years. Dr. Deborah Cuffee and Doris Culver served as luncheon chair and co-chair, respectively; and Denise Dobbins serves as EMBODI Committee chair. The president of the Fort Worth Alumnae Chapter is Barbara Cager.
Pictures (Click to view):
· FWA-EMBODI-01 – Collage
· FWA-EMBODI-02 – EMBODI PANELISTS
Dr. Ernest Thomas, Charles Dutton, Rev. Maverick Gayden, Sean Colston
· FWA-EMBODI-03 – FWA Group with Charles Dutton and actress Erma P. Hall:
Seated: Actress Erma P. Hall
Middle Row L to R: Melvylyn Pace, Jannis Dilworth, Yolanda Walker, Michelle Brown, Charles "Roc" Dutton, Ernestine Cohee, Bevelia Curley, Deborah Cuffey, Doris Culver, Kaye Vann Anderson
Top Row L to R: Elrita Rogers, Patricia Clark, Annie Dobbins, Carla Moore, Talemah Jones, Angela Smith, Barbara Cager (Chapter President), Carol Everhart, Shirley Coggins, Joy Thomas
· FWA-EMBODI-04 – Men of UMOJA Mentoring Group with Charles Dutton, Erma P. Hall and Dr. Ernest Thomas, President TCC South Campus
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