News
Amachi founder speaks to staff and supporters
02/27/2009
Followup:
How are the children?
On Thursday, February 26, the Reverend Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Amachi program founder, came to Oklahoma to spend time with the staff and supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma. Goode spent the afternoon at the BBBSOK-Tulsa office where he personally addressed BBBSOK staff that came from BBBSOK offices throughout the state. Then, Goode headed to Tulsa's downtown Boston Avenue United Methodist Church to speak to supporters of BBBSOK about Amachi.
According to Goode, there are certain cultures in the world where people greet each other in their language by asking a very profound question-'How are the children?' He said that with so many children at risk, it would be wonderful if we could always answer that question by saying that they are doing well.
Goode was open about his struggle as a young man trying to navigate through life while his father was in prison. His pastor and pastor's wife saw potential in him, and decided to become his mentors. His life was changed forever. Despite being told that he was not college material, Goode went on to finish college, eventually earn a Doctorate, and has achieved amazing things life-including becoming Philadelphia's first African-American mayor, twice-elected, among other things.
In 2000, after leaving a job with the U.S. department of education, he started Amachi, a volunteer program for children with incarcerated parents. 'Amachi' is a Nigerian word meaning 'Who knows but what God has brought us through this child?' The name was fitting, and Amachi soon started as a community effort that would become a national movement. Thus far, through working with organizations and congregations, Amachi has reached over 150,000 children of promise. BBBSOK is one such organization in partnership with Amachi.
Goode talked about how mentoring organizations like BBBSOK can achieve the most impact. He advised that partnership can produce positive results. The end result is that children who would have had a negative future instead become productive citizens. BBBSOK has a well-supported system. "Why not use it to help a group of children who are destined to populate the nation's prisons?" said Goode. The only way to find out if something works, according to Goode, is to try it.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters, results have proven that children being mentored through the program are less likely to quit school and more likely to graduate from high school. They are also less likely to turn to violence, and have healthier relationships with family and peers.