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Title: Developing and Nurturing Excellence in African American Male Adolescents
Source: Journal of Counseling and Development 82 no1 10-17 Wint 2004

Summary: This article looks at the results of  Project: Gentlemen on the Move, a North Carolina program designed to develop and nurture academic and social excellence in African American male adolescents, and looks at their results after five years. The project involved an annual group of approximately 50 African American male students ranging from those who constantly found themselves in trouble to those who were considered to be "ideal students."

Qualitative approach: Ethnographic research

Research question: Can a program such as Project: Gentlemen on the Move increase students' academic and social success for adolescent, African American males.

Null hypothesis: Project: Gentlemen on the Move will not increase students' academic and social success for African American male adolescents.

Alternate hypothesis: Project: Gentlemen on the Move will increase students' academic and social success for African American male adolescents.

Outcomes:  At the end of 5 years, approximately 300 male African Americans had been on the PGOTM roster at one point or another. Results from one study revealed that students who participated in the program on a regular basis obtained higher grade point averages (GPAs) than did students who were referred to the program but chose not to participate (Bailey, 1995).  Many of these students went on to enjoy success in their personal lives: Two are now playing in the National Football League (NFL), 1 is a senior pre-reed student, 1 is a teaching fellow, another is a computer software engineer with the U.S. Department of Defense, 1 is a member of the U.S. Navy, and another is a senior majoring in fashion design. Although many of the former PGOTM members fell through the cracks, it is obvious that many are doing well.

Data collected: I wish they had been more specific about the data they tracked.  They gave general comments and GPA info.  They also used surveys, to try to answer the question -  To what extent did PGOTM affect the lives of the young men who participated for more than one semester. They surveyed project participants and their parents.  Quotes are provided from project participants and parents of participants, that show that PGOTM had a positive impact on their academic performance and social development.

Note: I also found it interesting that they pointed out that the cost of a running a 50 student cohort for one year (approx. $50,000) is less than the least expensive program for kids in trouble that these students could have ended up in had they not turned their lives around.