Indy pastor launches local 'Black Men Matter' campaign

In a quiet room filled with mahogany-, brown- and almond-colored faces, the men and boys — most younger than 18 — discussed their worth.

Elected officials didn't speak at this conference. No police officers showed up with facts and statistics.

And the pastor charged with leading the conversation, the Rev. Shaune R. Shelby, listened more than he spoke.

That's the way he wanted it.

No one knows more about the black experience than black men, the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church said.

He organized the conference in an effort to "change the conversation." Discussions about dropout rates, unplanned parenthood and crime don't lead to productivity, Shelby said. Change comes when people talk about life skills, achievement and goals.

His Near-Northside church is near the Harding Street home where Indianapolis police found four people fatally shot March 24. The quadruple homicide left community members stunned, but their grief isn't Shelby's only focus.

Instead, the pastor said he is trying to stay positive.

"I want to create a national movement," Shelby said Saturday during his "Black Men Matter" conference at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. "We think black is strong. It represents power. It represents strength."

Ten mentors from business, academia, intercollegiate athletics and college-student leadership explained to about 20 teen boys from throughout the city what it takes to succeed. Topics included leadership skills, career choices and financial literacy.

The teens were dressed almost identically. T-shirts stamped with the slogan "Black Men Matter" united them before the conference began. Bow ties, a gift from Shelby, will keep the mentors and boys united until they meet again.

One of the mentors was Eddie Journey, an Indianapolis counselor who specializes in mental health therapy for minorities and clergy.

Journey wanted the boys to understand that they don't have to apologize for existing, that black men have a purpose, that they shouldn't be ignored.

"The whole idea of 'matter' is to take up space," Journey said. "That's a very powerful dynamic for me. We are often times taught to excuse ourselves from taking up space."

Taking up space, Journey said, is a continuing struggle for many black men.

"It's about mattering."

The "Black Men Matter" conference Saturday marked the latest effort, locally and nationally, to underscore the plight faced by many young black males.

The national "Black Lives Matter" social media campaign began in 2012 after the well-publicized case of Florida resident George Zimmerman, who was acquitted in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. More recent killings of unarmed black men by white police officers have further fueled the campaign.

In Indianapolis, the "Your Life Matters" initiative focuses on improving the lives of young black males. An effort by a group of education, business, health care, government and nonprofit leaders, it seeks to address a host of issues young black males face, such as an increased risk of being a homicide victim or getting involved in the juvenile justice system, and lower rates of graduation and employment.

The city laid out the details of the plan earlier this month. "Your Life Matters" messages will go out on Radio One Indianapolis broadcast stations, town hall meetings will be convened in black housing developments and an executive director will be hired to gather data and focus the effort.

"Being a black man, it's challenging," said Cortlind Mallory, a 14-year-old freshman at Bishop Chatard High School who attended Saturday's conference. "But you still have to overcome what people say or do to you."

A conversation about good choices stuck with Dayron Taylor.

"It's been helpful in some areas," said Taylor, 14, whose grandmother signed him up for the conference.

Shelby, the pastor, plans to continue the conversation with a virtual mentoring program, he said. Mentors at the conference will be able to touch base with the boys via email and social media as often as they need. He also wants to make the conference an annual event.

Call Star reporter Cara Anthony at (317) 444-6049. Follow her on Twitter:@CaraRAnthony.