New Initiative In Palm Springs Helps Shape Future Of Black Families

Organizers behind a new initiative in Palm Springs say they want to help shape the future of the city?s African American children.

The program is called BRAAF, which is short for ?Building Resilience In African-American Families.?

The purpose, organizers say, is to help families keep everyone in their household on the right course, especially the children.

Bryan Revis, 12, knows what he wants to be when he grows up.

“A brain surgeon,” he said.

He said because of BRAAF, he knows exactly what he needs to do to make sure he?s working in the hospital one day.

“(I need to know) how to control my anger,? he said. ?In the past, I used to have anger management problems, because I get really easily offended.”

“It’s an early prevention and intervention program to reduce stressors,? said Sandra Austin, a BRAAF coordinator. ?We want to stop the possibility of developing mental health issues later in life.”

BRAAF has three components, according to its literature.

One of them is called Rites of Passage, which teaches young boys how to become strong, proud men.

“We learn our characteristics from the men in our lives,? said C.W. Parker of Ajalon Baptist Church. ?I believe it’s important to present the image of a positive man in the lives of our young men. Otherwise, they’ll pick up characteristics from the not so positive men that are around them.”

Statistics show one out of three African-American children grows up without a father as a role model.

Four out of five African-American children can expect to be involved in the criminal justice system at some point in their life.

These are part of the reason BRAAF?s main goal when it comes to children and crime is prevention.

Revis hasn’t even started the programs yet, but already seems to know the importance stopping any bad behavior in its tracks.

“i just got to go the other way,? reves said. ?just go the other way.”