WHO WE ARE
A group of brothers who love to read & teach.
Brothers Also Read, (The BAR) was co-founded by Milton Eric Fletcher, Thomas Williams, Ken Brandon, Jimmie Wafer, Harley Hughey, and Carlos Corniffe in Detroit, Michigan during the summer of 2003. The organization has as its original mission the mentoring of young men via the reading and discussion of books of mutual interests. Each “adult” member of the group was required to identify at least one high-school student to mentor. As a result, the original membership of the group was comprised of the co-founders and their mentees. In recent years, as a result of the wide variety of books reviewed, many of which highlighted on-going concerns of the African-American community, the mission of the group has evolved.
As a result of the expanded focus the group is no longer simply focused on reading, discussion and mentoring, but also on critical thinking, collective action and positive social change. The single event that served to motivate the group to significantly enlarge its focus took place in September of 2013 when 26 members of The BAR met in Atlanta, Georgia with U.S. Congressman John Lewis to review his book entitled, “Walking with the Wind.”
Upon conclusion of the meeting with Congressman Lewis he challenged the group to “find a way to get in the way!” The way of social change! In September of 2016 members of The BAR met in Washington, DC for the Dedication and Grand Opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. While there, The BAR met with Princeton Professor Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr. to review his book “Democracy in Black.” This meeting served to further highlight the need for critical thinking, collective action, and positive social change in our communities.
The BAR – Brothers Also Read is a fraternal literary based organization whose purpose is to SUPPORT the intellectual growth and development of our members, MENTOR young men into adulthood, and TRANSFORM the conversations in our communities from “words” that work against us to PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE that works for us in our efforts to affect positive social change!
The BAR is now a national organization with members in twelve different states. Literacy in our communities is our primary focus. The BAR defines literacy as “the knowledge of how life works!” And has developed The Life University Project as its capstone focus in conjunction with Chandler Park Academy to ensure that the young men involved in the project will graduate from high-school with the knowledge of how life works! The Life University Project will include our periodic meetings and book reviews with the students, individual mentoring, and a Leadership Academy for those students with both the potential and expressed interest in leadership.
In addition to its focus on the Life University Project, The BAR also sponsors public conversations and forums that will serve to inform and encourage participation of individuals in our communities to engage in activities which support positive social change. One such event is a Walk for Literacy that is currently being planned on the River Walk in Detroit, Michigan in 2023!
The BAR is now a registered 501.C3 in the State of Michigan, and is currently focused on building alliances with organizations who share its focus on education and literacy.
OUR MISSION & VALUES
The BAR – Brothers Also Read is a fraternal literary organization whose purpose is to support the intellectual growth and development of our members, mentor young men into adulthood, and transform the conversations in our communities into action that produces positive social change.
In conjunction with the evolution of the mission of The BAR a list of group values have been developed to provide focus both to our growth and to the efforts we will choose to undertake.
Our commitment to a persistent pursuit of knowledge to better recognize the overlooked and unrecognized.
Our commitment to envision, implement, and model positive actions and behaviors which will serve to move our community forward.
A commitment to disciplined thinking that is, based in sound logical principles, and always laced with humble awareness of the potential fallacies emanating from our human condition.
Uncompromising dedication to
grounding our beliefs in fact-based data as the basis for all we are and do. And a resolve which demands fidelity to acting The BAR – Brothers Also Read www.BrothersAlsoRead.com in line with how we are spiritually led to perceive the truth in the moment, regardless of consequences.
The dedication to challenging any force suggesting African-American males, united in manifesting spiritually inspired, constructive goals, lack any capacity to identify, develop, and refine resources required for the manifestation of desired results.
The dedicated appreciation that individual accomplishment, pales in comparison to what can be achieved through united efforts, marked by supportive accountability working to enhance individual talents in co-operative, rather than competitive efforts.
Our commitment to increase our understanding of socio-economic challenges to craft authentically impactful, constructive strategies that resonate powerfully as solutions to the problems we face.
MEET THE BOARD
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Milton E. Fletcher
CEO/Founder