The sweet, spicy scent of barbecued ribs filled Front Porch Alliance on Friday as Oliver Richmond and Grace Pointe Church celebrated five black youths who learned a trade and took financial management classes this summer.
City Councilman Yusuf Hakeem stood among several mentors, pastors and elected officials who encouraged the young men that they could succeed despite challenges that come with being a black male.
"People will tell you that you can't do it," said Hakeem. "But the only limitations you have are those that you impose upon yourself. You can be anything of good, anything of God that you want to be if you are willing to work for it."
The program began when former Merrill Lynch adviser Richmond stepped into the Avondale Youth and Family Development Center and asked if anybody wanted a job. Every student in the center raised his hand, and from them Richmond selected the first five volunteers.
The program included Austin Lewis, 17; Javontae Harris, 15; Malik Henry, 15; Matthew Braden, 13, and Devonte Wigfall, 12.
This initiative is Richmond's first attempt to teach money management to young people. He said he's working on an employment and educational program for the school year.
This summer, Richmond, executive director of the East Chattanooga Improvement League, wanted to show the boys they could make a living doing honest work, so he formed a funding partnership with Front Porch Alliance that allowed them to be paid $10 an hour.
The Avondale Youth and Family Development Center is in a community where 56 percent of the population lives below poverty, according to citydata.com. Avondale is one of four inner-city neighborhoods were gang violence is entrenched and 46 percent of working age adults are not in the labor force, according to a Chattanooga Comprehensive Gang Assessment released in 2012.
Richmond wants youth to succeed in spite of poor school systems and poverty, he said.
He solicited members of Grace Pointe Church to teach them faith and a trade. Church deacon Mike Sanderfer, owner of Mike's Lawn Care, taught the young men to cut grass and use lawn equipment such as backpack blowers and zero- turn mowers.
Grace Pointe pastor Marcellus Barnes taught them about having faith in God, while Richmond, founder of Richmond Financial Group, instilled a formula for saving, giving and spending money.
On Friday, each boy stood up during the luncheon and shared what he learned.
Henry talked about respecting himself and others.
"Each one of us is a creation from God," he said.
And Lewis talked about doing lawn work.
"I've never been interested in cutting grass, but I like that he taught us to do it and I got good at it, and overall, it was fun."
Richmond also surrounded the boys with mentors.
Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey told the young men of the challenges they may face.
"I'm not a racist, but I'm a realist," he said.
According to a report published June 3, 2015, in The Washington Post, the unemployment rate for black men in America ages 20 to 24 is more than twice as high as their white peers. Among 15- to 24-year-olds, the homicide rate is about 18 times higher for black men than whites. And black men of all ages are six times more likely than whites to be incarcerated.
"All I can tell you is, I love you guys. The deck is stacked against you," said Mackey. "You are at a disadvantage. You've got to work hard."
Then he called out his cellphone number and told them to call if they needed help.
Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.