NSBE, Steve Harvey Make an Impact in Chicago

NSBENEWS

By Chinedu Ndum any people know Steve Harvey from his work as an to complete the entertainer on television, radio and the stage, or from task was evident his writing of books such as “Act Like a Lady, Think when the groups M Like a Man.” Fewer know of his work with the Steve and began building their Marjorie Harvey Foundation, to uplift youth through education. It vehicles: each group was that serious mission that caught the attention of the National worked well togeth- Society of Black Engineers. er. However, when it This past Nov. 15th, NSBE partnered with the Steve Harvey was announced that Mentoring Program for Young Men (steveharveymentoring. the groups would be com) to bring a taste of NSBE’s unique Summer Engineering racing their vehicles, Experience for Kids (SEEK) to 100 young black men from Chicago. The mentoring program was a three-day, regional event the competitive nature of the young designed “to share, teach and men increased their diligence a notch. demonstrate the principles of Excitement and anticipation filled the manhood to young men, enabling air, as the groups made their final them to achieve their dreams modifications to the vehicles and the and become men who are start of the competition drew near. strong, responsible and produc- Then it was on to the track, where tive.” The goal of the weekend the vehicles were tested for endur- was “to break the misguided ance. After the competition, the traits of manhood and introduce

Ten NSBE collegiate members volunteered at a Steve Harvey Mentoring Program for Young Men event in Chicago. (Nov. 15, 2013)

role models who provide winning group positive examples of presented what manhood.” they learned, and I Those positive examples left the young men included 10 NSBE col- with a few words of legiate members from the wisdom. Chicago area, who volun- The NSBE teered their time to learn volunteers agreed the curriculum for a “Fuel Cell Challenge” — created by SAE that working with International — and present it to the 100 mentees who gath- the young black men from Chicago was a wonderful experi- ered at Chicago State University for the program. Each NSBE ence. Seeing the young mentees’ initial expressions of skepticism volunteer worked with a group of 10 young men to increase the change to looks of excitement and confidence during the event mentees’ understanding of engineering and its basic principles, was simply priceless. ■ and how to apply them. As the NSBE volunteers began introducing themselves and Chinedu Ndum was the Summer Engineering Experience for the Fuel Cell Challenge, many of the young men were immedi- Kids (SEEK) site leader for Washington, D.C., in 2011, San ately engaged, ready to learn more. The teamwork necessary Diego in 2012 and Houston in 2013.