Ben's Kids Program

The Greater Beaumont Chapter has committed to providing mentors for Ben’s Kids.  Ben’s Kids, a component of IEA (Inspire, Encourage, Achieve), is a non-profit organization operating in a unique partnership with the Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department to provide enhanced educational and rehabilitative services to young offenders and at-risk youth. This collaborative arrangement is the only such program in existence in Texas, and is believed to be the sole covenant of its type in the United States.

  Ben's Kids Appreciation Award

Seven chapter members of 100 Black Men of Greater Beaumont participated in the National and Global Youth Service Day Project. The chapter members served a mentors and squad leaders for the Ben’s Kids participants during the project. Other participants were youths and adults from the Minnie Rogers Juvenile Justice Center.

The Youth Service Day project was cleaning trash and debris from city parks Pt. Arthur. The mentors and youth cleaned seven city parks.  The seven chapter members participating in the project were, JC Adams, Albert Darby Sr., Vernon Durden, Jimmy Guillory, Paul Jones, Bob Pollard and Audwin Samuel.

IEA’s outreach program, “Ben’s Kids,” provides youth on and recently released from probation with the rehabilitative tools needed to successfully navigate themselves away from the criminal justice system.  The youth meet twice monthly at  Lamar University for sessions covering personal responsibility, improving self esteem, communication skills, defining and changing destructive behavior, making wise choices, and building and maintaining healthy relationships.  “Ben’s Kids” is also a venue for the youth to participate in community service projects and positive recreational activities.  In addition, IEA conducts a four-week summer program, Camp Bright Star, for “Ben’s Kids” participants.

Other support for “Ben’s Kids” is provided by trained staff members, Super Mentors, who serve as role models and are assigned to each youth for one-on-one support, friendship and encouragement.  To insure the individual needs of the youth are met, Super Mentors also communicate regularly with their parents/guardians, probation officers and school staff.  In addition, IEA’s Harvest of Hope consists of a group of community volunteers who mentor and interact with the youth at “Ben’s Kids” gatherings.

IEA collaborates with school officials to provide the youth additional educational opportunities and plans of action to assist them in graduation from high school and furthering their educations.

Chapter Members JC Adams, Robert Prados and Van Greer shown in these photos along with other members not pictured Vernon Durden,  Jimmy Guillory, Charles Paul, Albert Darby Jr. and Bob Pollard, all were busy as mentors helping The Ben’s Kids youth understand and appreciate “Community Service”. This project of constructing Easter baskets and buckets will benefit two local organizations. The baskets and buckets were presented to the Boy’s and Girl’s Heaven after they were completed.

    IEA’s outreach program, “Ben’s Kids,” provides youth on and recently released from probation with the rehabilitative tools needed to successfully navigate themselves away from the criminal justice system.  The youth meet twice monthly at  Lamar University for sessions covering personal responsibility, improving self esteem, communication skills, defining and changing destructive behavior, making wise choices, and building and maintaining healthy relationships.  “Ben’s Kids” is also a venue for the youth to participate in community service.

Copyright © 2006 100 Black Men of Greater Beaumont