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Student African American Brotherhood
SAAB
Founded	October 17, 1990 (1990-10-17) Georgia Southwestern State University
Type	Social
Scope	National
Mission statement	Student African American Brotherhood develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities.
Motto	"I am my brother's keeper, and together we will rise.
Chapters	200+
Nicknames	SAAB
Aims	In the Business of Building Better Brothers
Headquarters	Toledo, Ohio United States
Website	http://www.saabnational.org/

Student African American Brotherhood is an organization founded in 1990 on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University, whoms goal is to increase graduation of African American and Latino college students by creating a positive peer community on a spirit of caring. Student African American Brotherhood also known as SAAB is shared on more than 200+ College and University campuses, middle and high schools across the United States. SAAB is "In the Business of Building Better Brothers." Student African American Brotherhood's motto is "I am my brother's keeper, and together we will rise."

History

The story of SAAB begins in 1990 when it was established by Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe on October 17, 1990 on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University. The organization was established to address the academic and social challenges of African American males at Georgia Southwestern and has many collegiate and high school chapters around the country. SAAB is an organization committed to providing opportunities for at-risk males in high school and college. SAAB believes it is a Professional organization that serves as role models for inner-city neighborhoods throughout the country. SAAB tries to assists men of color to realize and achieve their fullest potential by upholding a caring outlook and to transform themselves by changing their attitudes, mentoring their fellow brothers and providing positive Leadership within their community. The organization’s commitment to enhancing the school and life experiences of Underprivileged men of color is fueled by the synergy of the college campus and the concept of graduating from high school and college as a means to survival and self-sufficiency. By mobilizing and developing human capital through our student participants, SAAB hopes to infuse our society with a culture of young men that will make a national impact and empower all people through appropriate mentoring and role modeling despite social disparities, to achieve an education and in turn play an active role in bettering the lives of others.

Vision

SAAB is recognized as a national leader and movement organized to set the standard for organizational excellence. Through leadership, mentoring, advocacy, and action, SAAB intends to remove educational barriers for at-risk youth and ensure that significantly more African-American and Latin-American men graduate from college and to empower those graduates with the ethics and networks necessary to set a higher standard of achievement for men of color by fostering a spirit to care about themselves and others, resulting in "Saving Lives and Salvaging Dreams" of all people.

Mission

Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB) wants to be a dynamic organization established specifically to assist our participants to excel academically, socially, culturally, professionally, and in the community. SAAB is primarily comprised of male students who strive for academic excellence and make a commitment to plan and implement programs that benefit their community at large. SAAB encourages its participants to embrace leadership by being positive examples for each other through a strong commitment to academic achievement, brotherhood, and community service. SAAB provides weekly study sessions, weekly developmental seminars for students of all ages, business meetings, social and religious activities, and work with various non-profit service.

Goals

The goals of SAAB, are for all Black males on educational campuses to take full advantage of their academic years and to better understand and practice their full responsibilities, rights, and privileges as citizens of this country. Additionally, SAAB works in the community with younger Black males in need of guidance and direction. One of its objectives is that all SAAB members will be role models for each other as well as for other Black males in the community. It is their hope that SAAB members will be well prepared to enter the work force as professionals and be among the best competing for a meaningful place in their communities and in the society we live in. To achieve these goals and objectives, SAAB tries to provide educational and cultural activities for its members and others.

Culture

SAAB intent is to be a values-driven organization that cultivates a culture of young men for a community that has been marginalized at best. SAAB values aim to be the cornerstone for organizational decisions, program development, and strategic collaborations and partnerships. SAAB encourages its participants to embrace their Core Principles of Accountability, Proactive Leadership, Self-Discipline and Intellectual Development in order to exemplify the values that uphold our mission and vision.

Values

1. Creating a “Spirit of Care” 2. Mentoring and Self-Discovery 3. Excellence without Excuse 4. Continuum of service and intervention from middle school to college graduation 5. Prevention and Early Intervention 6. Impact on students 7. Structured, high impact programming focusing on student development, career, education, cultural diversity and community service.

Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe

Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe resides in Toledo, Ohio. He was born and raised in Grenada, Mississippi. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree and Master’s of Education degree from Mississippi State University. He earned his Ph.D in Counseling and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia; and was chosen as the Outstanding Doctoral Student in the State of Georgia and was most recently recognized as the Outstanding Doctoral Alumnus by the University of Georgia.

Recently, he served as Vice President for Student Life and Special Assistant to the President at The University of Toledo but has now transitioned temporarily to the role of Executive Director of the SAAB National Headquarters. He is the founder of the Student African American Brotherhood Organization (SAAB), which is a national organization established to enhance the experiences of and instill a “spirit of care” in African American males in high schools, colleges and universities around the country. He is a contributing author of recently released book “African American Men in College”, Jossey-Bass Publisher.

He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and is very active in the arena of higher education. He is recognized by several professional associations for his research, publications, presentations and scholarly work. In 1999, he was invited to Oxford, England to serve as a guest lecturer to discuss his work with African American males at the Oxford University Roundtable Institute, which is sponsored by the British Council. Also, he was invited to join an international research team to address issues around men of color in Europe, Trinidad, Barbados and the Bahamas. Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe has appeared on talk shows such as “Perfect Union” hosted by Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. to discuss his work involving African American and Latino Males.

Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe is deemed as one of the most gifted and dynamic motivational speakers by the thousands who have heard him speak. Recently, he was chosen as one of the most outstanding social innovators in the world by the Ashoka International Organization. He seeks to be a spiritual and thought-provoking lecturer. And most importantly to him, he is the father of one adult son, Tyrone Bledsoe, Jr.

Chapture Structure

SAAB attempts to distinguish itself from other minority student programs in the following ways: 1. A national success rate as a dynamic educational-based organization that serves thousands of young men at 180 middle schools, high schools; community colleges and four-year institutions with chapters that are at least 5 years old. Eighty Six percent (86%) of SAAB student members graduate from college, compared to a national average of 42% among black men in particular. 2. To become a SAAB member one must accept the charge to be a role model and a mentor. SAAB members are polite, sincere, hardworking, and encouraging; knowing that these characteristics are counter to the popular but offensive negative images of young black and brown men in America. 3. SAAB members are required to tutor and mentor high school, middle school and elementary students as a way to seed the same caring spirit that SAAB promotes. 4. When compared to other male support groups and fraternal organizations geared towards the same population, SAAB maintains stricter membership requirements that are unrelated to entertainment or sports. SAAB Chapters must adhere to annual membership requirements and core standards to remain part of the national network and comply with implementation fidelity desired across all chapters.

Membership

SAAB membership is open to any student attending an institution that is a registered SAAB Chapter.

Successes

SAAB believes its graduated are more prepared to be competitive in the professional world of work and serve as role models for inner-city neighborhoods throughout the country. Over the past decade, SAAB has helped to ensure the continued academic success of African American males by helping 80% of SAAB participants persist from their freshman to sophomore year and helping 86% of SAAB participants graduate. This success greatly exceeds the 42% national rate of retention for African American males that persist from their freshman to sophomore year and the 55% average national five-year graduation rate for Black males. The SAAB program has attracted national attention as an innovative prototype for personal and academic enrichment, and has been successfully expanded to serve students at both public and private four-year institutions, including both predominantly white and historically Black institutions. SAAB has devotes itself to proven that through strong leadership and personal dedication African American college men can achieve personal and academic success.