In a bid to inspire and empower Black men in the field of education, sophomore Zaire Bond has officially launched the Black Male Educators and Leaders Alliance at Bowie State University. The club aims to foster leadership qualities while encouraging a commitment to teaching.
This new organization is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of their academic majors.
“The focus of the club is on leadership and education,” said Bond. “We want to provide the necessary tools for young Black men to become leaders which means providing positive input and reinforcement such as peer mentoring. Fifteen students have expressed interest in joining the club and I’ll meet with them tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. on the second floor in the library. They’re excited and I’m excited.”
Bond’s journey into education was sparked as a high school sophomore when he learned about BSU’s Black Male Teachers College. His mother informed him about the program, leading him to meet Dr. Julius Davis, a mentoring figure at BSU.
A Legacy of Teaching
“My father teaches social studies and U.S. history and my grandmother was an elementary and high school teacher so it’s a part of my DNA,” said Bond. “But meeting Dr. Davis and other Black male teachers solidified my desire to become a teacher and study at Bowie State. And with the financial support I’m receiving from the Augustus F. Hawkins grant, I know I can attain my goal to become a Black male educator.”
The Augustus F. Hawkins grant was awarded to Bowie State by the Department of Education in 2023. The grant provides $1.5 million over four years to support the Black Male Teachers program. This financial assistance has already made an impact. Significantly, 17 current Black male BSU students have their tuition, books, and, in some cases, room and board covered.
“The Augustus F. Hawkins grant has been a game changer,” said Dr. Davis. “We can offer Black male students support, mentors, experiential learning and financial backing which goes a long way in attracting students to the education field. All of those factors played a role in Zaire deciding to come to Bowie State.”
Bond emphasizes that the mission of the Black Male Educators and Leadership Alliance extends beyond merely preparing future teachers. “You don’t have to be a teacher to be an educator,” said Bond. “I want the Black Male Educators and Leadership Alliance to be known as an organization that provides all students the necessary tools to become leaders and positive reinforcement for Black men. My father taught me that focusing on relationship building and getting to know students is critical in the learning process.”
As the club gears up for its inaugural meeting, Bond is actively recruiting members to join this important initiative. Once he completes his bachelor’s degree, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership.