Atrayus Goode

“Inciting Change!”

Emphasizing Brotherhood Across Campus Effectively (EmBrACE )

BRMA NEEDS VOLUNTEER MENTORS

EmBrACE was founded in 2001 by William Chavis, Terrence Smith, Kenneth Sutton, and TJ Abrams with the purpose of bringing together males on campus to make a positive change in the community. Since then, EmBrACE has made incredible progress by establishing a tutoring program at Smith Middle School , holding its first annual Men's Week ‘06, working closely with its sister organization (Celebration of Black Womanhood), and fostering principles of responsibility, compassion, and generosity.

The second annual Men's Week is designed to motivate and encourage both men and women to be instruments of change in society. Change isn't passive...it will take a concerted effort from EVERYONE to better the conditions of the African-American community. Don't wait for the revolution to come on its own...be the spark that brings the much needed fire into existence! EmBrACE life! EmBrACE freedom! EmBrACE CHANGE!

Neo-Semantic Interview

MyTravelCity411.net , a free service of E | A Consultants, LLC

MyTravelCity411.net : Why did William Chavis, Terrence Smith, Kenneth Sutton, and TJ Abrams first start EmBrACE and what problem did they originally attempt to fix?

Atrayus Goode: They wanted to find a way to get more black males involved on campus. The goal was to have black males come together who were not Greek. They wanted to give brothers a way to be involved without being involved in particular Greek organizations. It eased tensions because different folks came together.

MyTravelCity411.net : Why did you decide to become involved in this organization?

Atrayus Goode: Seeing the brothers being active, I saw the potential to accomplish something great. We were not doing as much as we are doing now. I began building relationships to take a leadership role so that we could do bigger things.

MyTravelCity411.net : Has the EmBrACE focus or target audience changed since the beginning, if so why?

Atrayus Goode: No it hasn't changed. We still primarily target African American males.

MyTravelCity411.net : Why did you choose the name EmBrACE , does this name have any significant meaning?

Atrayus Goode: The name goes back to original mission of getting brothers involved. Emphasizing Brotherhood Across Campus Effectively shows we are trying to hold onto something. I want to grab a hold of something positive and get people to embrace something positive. It means embracing freedom and the fact that we are free. We have the ability to go out into the community and embrace change. This means if we see something that is not right we can go out and be bold enough to say it's not right.

MyTravelCity411.net : EMBRACE is planning its 2 nd annual Men's Week. What unique and different should supporters expect this year? Tell us About Men's Week 2007 "Instruments of Change"

Atrayus Goode: Last year was the first year we had Men's Week. We were just starting out. We had the basketball tournament and a forum on masculinity focused on breaking down stereotypes of black men. This year is focused on inciting change in the community.

Monday, March 26 th: "TRUE LIFE: I'm a Black Male": The first day, we want to hold brothers to higher standards by busting down the stereotypes that come with being a black male. Personally, I have been through a lot of stuff. But my background was not used, as an excuse. At the end of the session, we will be signing a commitment statement about holding ourselves to a higher standard. Tuesday, March 27 th : "Madea: COONERY or Black Theatre?"Some people like the Tyler Perry films and some people don't. We will look at whether Perry's style is bringing back stereotypical representations of blackness.

Wednesday, April 28 th : "Respecting OUR Women":will talk about how to respect women. We will read do things to show our value for women such as reading poetry and passing out flowers. Women are important. And on the flip side that women have to respect other women as well. Women are also being held to high standards.

Thursday, March 29 th : "EXPOSED: The Truth Behind AIDS and the African-American Community" is co-sponsored with Project STYLE and the Minority Student Caucus at the School of Public Health . People are so far removed. AIDS is not a white gay disease it affects everybody. It looks just like you and like me. We need to be safe and more knowledgeable. There will be a speaker, short documentary, and a panel of people living with AIDS .

Friday, March 30 th : "WILD'N OUT! UNC Edition" is going to be crazy. Aden of Language Arts and Dasan Ahanu of AMPTruth records will be some of the participants in a sketch comedy duel. We will also have a live DJ. All the money goes to the women's center. Saturday, March 31 st : "Steps for Health: A Walk for Breast Cancer" will end with a breast cancer walk. Steps for Health is a 2.5-mile walk around cancer to raise awareness. Registration is $5 and includes a t-shirt and lunch. During lunch, a breast cancer survivor will speak.

MyTravelCity411.net : What Raleigh , Durham , and Chapel Hill community responsibility do you believe groups such as EmBrACE have?

Atrayus Goode: It didn't originally start out as what we are doing now. We are doing more things in the community. We must reach out as much as possible. We started The Movement of Youth program. We work with about 11 minority males from Hillside High School (in Durham ). We meet with them every 2 nd and 4 th Saturday. We've done workshops on business etiquette and self-defense. We also did SAT prep and toured The UNC Law School. They will also participate in the Breast Cancer Walk on Saturday. We are trying to start an epidemic to reach down and actively do something in the community. Until you do something you are part of the problem. We are not just saying what needs to be done; we are actually doing something.

MyTravelCity411.net : What should people expect to see from EmBrACE in the years to come?

Atrayus Goode: Much more. We are looking to grow into a non-profit. We would like to do more basketball tournaments on campus. We are also doing bigger things with the youth like working with teens in Southeast Raleigh High School . We are also working on a program on lynching called HANGED. We want to discuss the truth behind lynchings looking at its effects on the past and present. We are reaching out to different universities. EmBrACE is building a good working relationship at different universities with groups such as the Collegiate 100 at NC State and NCCU. EmBrACE is on the move!

MyTravelCity411.net: What else do you want your loyal supporters to know about EmBrACE ?

Atrayus Goode: Continue supporting us. The more support we have, the more we can do. Stay tuned and watch out because we are really going to make a difference.

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The Event

Contact Atrayus

The second annual Men's Week is designed to motivate and encourage both men and women to be instuments of change in society. Change isn't passive...it will take a concerted effort from EVERYONE to better the conditions of the African-American community. Don't wait for the revolution to come on its own...be the spark that brings the much needed fire into existance! EmBrACE life! EmBrACE freedom! EmBrACE CHANGE!

Emphasizing Brotherhood Across Campus Effectively presents...

MENS WEEK 2007
"Instruments of Change"

Monday, March 26th
"TRUE LIFE: I'm a Black Male"
Co-sponsored with the NCSU Collegiate 100 of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc.
7:00pm, Union 3508

Did you know that 82% of all violent assaults involving black males are against other black males? Did you know that black males between 18-24 make up 11% of the prison population but only 4% of the college population? Why does this continue to happen? And what will YOU do about it? Come listen to testimonials of young African-American males as they shatter these stumbling blocks and incite participants to discard societal perceptions of the TRUE LIFE of a Black Male. Moderated by Dr. Archie Ervin.

"TRUTH HURTS"
Co-sponsored with the Education Committee of the Black Student Movement
11:00am to 2:00pm, Pit

Come find out why you can't handle the TRUTH...
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Tuesday, March 27 th : "Madea: COONERY or Black Theatre?"
Co-sponsored with the Lambda Psi Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
7:30pm, Gardner 105

In the 21st Century, Tyler Perry has dominated the Black Theatre scene. With box office hits such as "Madea Goes to Jail", "Diary of a Mad Black Woman", and "Daddy's Little Girl", this successful entertainer has gained the hearts of many viewers through his "Urban Theatre" style. Despite his success, some black viewers and entertainers, namely Malcolm Jamal Warner (Theo Huxtable), feel that Perry's style is bringing back stereotypical representations of blackness. So, are Tyler Perry films just modern day minstrel shows or is Warner just upset because traditional black theatre has lost its connection with the black community?
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Wednesday, April 28 th "Respecting OUR Women"
5:30pm, Union Multipurpose Room

Women provide us with wisdom, kindness, and LIFE, yet many women are treated as if they are beneath men. Come find out why women should be treated with--and deserve--nothing but the utmost respect from other women, but especially MEN. Women put us on this earth; MEN, its time to show them some RESPECT.

"WOMEN'S APPRECIATION DAY"
11:00am to 2:00pm, Pit

LADIES, join members of EmBrACE as we honor women on UNC's campus. You won't want to miss this!
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Thursday, March 29th
"EXPOSED: The Truth Behind AIDS and the African-American Community"
Co-Sponsored with Project STYLE and the Minority Student Caucus at the School of Public Health
7:30pm, Gardner 105

Nationwide, HIV rates among blacks have doubled. Still, many people believe that AIDS is a white gay disease. As a result, 2% of all black males have HIV, making them 10 times more likely to have HIV than their white counterparts. Come find out more about the disease and talk to African-Americans living with the disorder. Discover first hand that AIDS doesn't discriminate against anyone; without proper knowledge of the disease, YOU could be NEXT.
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Friday, March 30th
"WILD'N OUT! UNC Edition"
Co-sponsored with AMPTruth Records, Language Arts, and Ebony Readers Onyx Theatre
Hosted by "Golden Child"
7:00pm, Cabaret
$2 admission before, $5 at the door
**All proceeds go to the Carolina Women's Center**

Get ready for the SHOW OF A LIFETIME! For the FIRST TIME EVER, watch EROT Classic battle NEO EROT in a sketch comedy duel that is sure to bring down the house! Let's not forget that DJ PILLZBURY will be one the 1's and 2's, Dasan Ahanu from AMPTruth records and Aden from Language Arts will be performing, PRIZES will be given throughout the night, and maybe even an appearance from a LOCAL CELEBRITY...but you gotta come out to the show to find out! Here's the starting lineup for both teams:

EROT Classic:
Chad Moore
Kelvin Bullock
Greg Jackson
Nimasheena Burns
Dasan Ahanu

NEO EROT:
Donovan Livingston
Maya Mitchell
Jarrette Pittman
Aden Darity
TBA

Advance tickets will be sold for $2 in the Pit from 10:00am to 2:00pm from March 26th to March 30th...the first 30 tickets include VIP status at the show with a WILD'N OUT! UNC Edition shirt, FREE music from AMPTruth Records, and much MORE! Tickets will be sold at the door for $5. DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS INCREDIBLE SHOW!
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Saturday, March 31st
"Steps for Health: A Walk for Breast Cancer"
Co-sponsored with the Carolina Women's Center and G-Force from Graham High School
9:00am, Old Well

Started last year by Miss Black Student Movement 2005-2006, Ada Wilson, Steps for Health is a 2.5 mile walk around campus to raise awareness about Breast Cancer. Join us as we walk, eat lunch, and listen to a survivor tell her story about Breast Cancer. Registration will be held from 10:00am to 2:00pm in the Pit from March 26th to March 30th and from 8:00am to 8:45am on March 31st. Registration is $5 and includes a t-shirt, a Breast Cancer fact sheet, and lunch for Saturday. You must pre-register in order to be guaranteed lunch for Saturday. See you there!
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Thank you in advance for your support and I hope to see you during MENS WEEK 2007! EmBrACE life! EmBrACE freedom! EmBrACE CHANGE! E freedom! EmBrACE CHANGE!

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