Minority Youth mentor program of excellence

 

Roy ‘Sgt. Roy’ Lewis as he is best known in Charlotte, N.C. is a fitness instructor , a Master Fitness Trainer, motivational speaker and a husband and father of two children. He works at Bank of America as a data analyst. He is still an active member of the Army Reserves where he now holds the rank of Master Sergeant. Sgt. Roy has just recently returned from a tour in Baghdad, Iraq. His mission there was to train the Iraqi National Police. Sgt. Roy is a bit of a local celebrity in Charlotte. While away in Iraq he was featured each week in WCNC/NBC’s award nominated program ‘Life on the Line’.

    Sgt. Roy has been a featured speaker with organizations such as United Way, Race for the Cure, A Child’s Place and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. He is best known for his fitness classes. His use of military style and training techniques inspires and motivates his students to keep coming back for more. Sgt. Roy has served in the active Army, National Guard and now the Army Reserves for a combined total of 25 years. Eight of those last years he has been assigned to Fort Jackson, South Carolina as a drill instructor conducting basic training.

 

In 2006 a personal tragedy came to the Lewis household when their son had been arrested by the police for joy riding one night in a car that had been stolen! The whole ordeal put the Lewis family under additional stress because at that time Sgt. Roy had been called to active duty to Iraq.  The story has a happy ending with Sgt. Roy’s son being cleared of all charges and released. However, this experience brought to the forefront within Sgt. Roy  the need for a mentoring program that would be geared to youth in crisis, mainly targeting African-American boys between the ages of 13 and 18 years of age. There are many programs already established but Sgt. Roy realized that those which target this particular group are minimal. This group especially struggles with the corrupting  influences brought on by the ‘gangster’ messages celebrated in some hip hop music, movies and role models. Also this group often suffers from a lack of strong African-American male role models. The manhood core values have become distorted to the point where the same mistakes are repeated over again with each generation. For some of these boys gang violence, crime, and drugs have become a way of life, in some cases ending up in their death.  Statistics say that never before in history have there been so many teenage deaths as in this generation.  We must do something to interrupt this and turn it around, Now!!

 

     Sgt. Roy has founded The Black Lions – Black Youth of Excellence Program. This program is designed to mentor black youth to overcome the personal obstacles and pursue their own excellence. The black lion represents strength, courage and that standard of excellence. These youth will be taught how to set goals, establish healthy relationships and to build safe boundaries that will develop into necessary life skills to ensure their overall success in life. “I am excite, scared and nervous all at the same time, but I look back on my own life and I can say there was always someone there who mentored me. This support empowered me and gave me the confidence and belief to believe that I could do anything! We have to do something and we have to do it now!” says Sgt. Roy.  The Black Lions are seeking your support for this mission. This is a huge undertaking but nonetheless with the support of local organizations and the community we can make a difference in the lives of these kids. For more information you can call Sgt. Roy at 980-229-3311 or email him at Sgtroy@hotmail.com. Thank you for your support.