Lakeview Asks Men to Step Up, Mentor Boys

The Lakeview community came together last week to support the local chapter of the NAACP and its plans to develop a program to help the young boys in the neighborhood.

“We want to bring good things to Lakeview and the area," Sherwyn Besson, a member of the Lakeview NAACP, explained to residents gathered at the local library for the April 15 meeting. 

A mentoring program is currently being developed that will take male students from Grades 7 to 12 and mold them into strong men who will improve the community and surrounding areas. 

But how would this program engage today's young people? questioned Lakeview resident Michael Alexander.

“We need volunteers to get into the youths’ mindset ,and we will start business training programs, which will include making resumes and how to talk in interviews," Besson explained. "We will be preparing them for jobs and let them do community service.

"We want to spark that light bulb for them so they can find out what they want to do," she added.

Town of Hempstead Council Member Dorothy Goosby also attended the meeting and stated, “I am excited to see all the people that came to the meeting.”

She also went on to explain that she has been working hard to get funds to improve the streetscape of Lakeview, which she believes will make a big difference in the community too.

At the meeting there was also the discussion about the Men-of-Lakeview March, scheduled for May 6. During this walk, which starts at 7 p.m., residents and members of the NAACP of Lakeview will walk throughout the hamlet to inspire others to join the movement of improving the community.

To find out more information and how you can get involved with the NAACP of Lakeview contact Chapter President Beatrice Bayley at 516-764-5537 or write to them at P.O Box 268 West Hempstead, NY 11552