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The Success Of OUR Sons Curriculum (S.O.S.)
Initially starting as a three-day workshop and later extended to five weeks, this initiative helps distraught parents prevent their black sons from failing. The program was eventually expanded into a curriculum for schools, school districts, and other educational organizations to assist more black boys.
S.O.S. is a virtual, interactive course with a social-emotional learning framework that promotes equity, cultural competency, and social impact.
It is specifically designed for middle and high school black males. The curriculum fosters resilience and wellness by providing a supportive environment for them to navigate their feelings, increase confidence, and persist in achieving their academic goals.
why a curriculum focused on young black males?
But with that full-time role, I could see how much young black men struggle.
They confided in me about their relationship struggles, which often exacerbated a little-known issue: homelessness among financially struggling young black men on college campuses. This forced them to rely on these relationships to maintain a roof over their heads.
They also struggled with depression silently, not wanting to burden their families with their problems.
I tried my best to help. I sat on the Success Committee, tasked with finding ways to increase black males' success and graduation rates. I designed "make-up" clinics to assist them in catching up with their work by pairing them with top scholars from my classes.
But I still worried about them.
And I had a reason to do so.
Statistics show that, regardless of socio-economic background, black boys face academic and emotional challenges that other groups do not encounter.
The issues plaguing our black males begin long before college.
As an educational leader, I know you also have a front-row seat to these challenges.
GOVERNMENTAL RESPONSE
Recognizing the need to act, the Senate and House of Representatives enacted H.R. Bill 1636 in 2019. This bipartisan bill established the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to "study and make recommendations to address social problems affecting Black men and boys."
H.R. Bill 1636, alongside a paper presented on November 19, 2020, "Overcoming Challenges Faced by Black Boys and Men" by the Brookings Institution's Future of the Middle-Class Initiative, states, "Schools have poorly served young black males."
By showing interest in the information on this website, you demonstrate a commitment to better serving this demographic.
Leadership Concepts Institute is uniquely positioned to partner with your school, district, or other educational organization to provide a rich learning environment holistically supporting young black men.
We offer a curriculum that integrates delivering targeted and intensive academic and behavior interventions for multi-tiered support systems.
The courses are based on Dr. Jean-Louis' two decades of cumulative, evidence-based research on educational and social-emotional learning best practices. Dr. Jean-Louis has held positions as an online curriculum developer, professor, and educational advocate and is a mother of three black sons, one of whom has dyslexia.
The S.O.S. curriculum is a 12-week course comprising 60- to 90-minute online interactive group lessons with built-in discussion questions. The structure of S.O.S. is based on Dr. Jean-Louis' T.H.R.I.V.E. concept, which stands for:
- Towards
- Holistic
- Relevant
- Impactful
- Value-added
- Education
Grounded in the national Positive Youth Development Framework, the curriculum requires learning to be intentional and effective within their communities, promote positive outcomes for young people, enhance the sense of belonging, focus on positive asset building for resiliency, and create and strengthen relationships with peers, friends, and family.
All lessons in the S.O.S curriculum support the National Education Association's position that learning should be strength-based.
The strength-based approach requires reflective practice.
There is a student guide which includes reflective exercises that assist students with:
- Critical thinking processes,
- Awareness of unity and mutual interrelation,
- Shared dialogue between teachers and students, and
- Probing questions that make students reflect on their values and belief systems.
SOS is a social-emotional learning curriculum that promotes equity, cultural competency, and social impact.
To support federal efforts to address challenges facing young black men, it is imperative that learning focuses on SEL.
Why is SEL important?
Student-driven data demonstrates that SEL is crucial in fostering an environment conducive to students who are academically and emotionally thriving by:
- Aiding in the healthy development of students,
- Increasing cognitive and emotional self-control and
- Equipping graduates with the tools to make better career decisions and meaningful contributions to society.
Thus, it complements the American School Counselors Association Student Standards: Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success (K-12, College, Career, and Life-Readiness Standards for Every Student).
AND
It supports the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) by:
- Advancing equity through upholding critical protections for disadvantaged and high-need students.
The curriculum maintains high academic standards that prepare students to succeed in college and careers.
Upon completion, students will achieve competency in five SEL areas:
- Self-awareness,
- Self-management,
- Social awareness,
- Relationship skills and
- Responsible decision-making.
That's why EACH lesson emphasizes:
- Intentional learning,
- Interaction and conversation,
- Lessons are built sequentially.
These evidence-based practices are the three overarching themes recommended by the Institute of Education Sciences
Learn More
Find out how your school or program can integrate the SOS social-emotional curriculum into the learning of black boys to assist them in academically and emotionally thriving, leading to improved life outcomes and a better culture within your school environment.