Community

Cultivating knowledge, nurturing skills at Blessing of the Harvest

By Kevin Campbell
By Kevin Campbell
A Charlotte mentoring program with 25 years of service is hosting its fourth annual Blessing of the Harvest.  “The fact that we grow (food) here allows our young people and the seniors in this community, as well as others, to be able to consume foods that they may not otherwise be able to get,” Reggie Singleton, executive director of The Males Place, said.   
Tomorrow, The Males Place will highlight some of their incredible agricultural and programmatic achievements.  Luminaries will address critical issues on Charlotte’s black food system, ceremonial blessing of the farm and garden and traditional African drumming and dance.
“This festival allows us to show our appreciation to the creator for allowing us to produce an abundance of food,” Singleton said. “We are also able to share with the most marginalized seniors along the Beatties Ford corridor.”
The Males Place provides comprehensive and prevention-based behavior health educational programming, mentoring and life skills training for African-American boys ages 12-18, while creating a safe environment for young men to grow experientially, in community settings in the United States and abroad.
“We believe that food security is a human rights issue,” Singleton said. “Irrespective of where you live, people should have fresh, locally, ecologically sound, culturally appropriate food.”
The Males Place offers a holistic curriculum of programs incorporating educational, spiritual, agricultural, social, civic, recreational and cultural enrichment for our youth.  They also recognize the importance of integrating artistic expression as a means of broadening the learning aptitudes of young men.
“We’ve been able to effectively marry mentoring, agriculture and social justice together.  It’s a phenomenal thing and we’re having a very positive impact with our young people,” Singleton said.  “People see The Males Place initiative as a pioneer in addressing food insecurity.  We’re problem solvers.”
Established in 1993, The Males Place has evolved over the last several years to become a vibrant multicultural community that has mentored over 3,000 youth, making their program one of the largest mentoring organizations in North Carolina.
The Males Place will have fresh organic produce and wares for purchase.
Mixed greens, mustards, kale, Swiss chard, moringa, herbs, peppers, scotch bonnet, Carolina reaper, fish, fatali, sweet potatoes and more.
The public is welcome to attend the Blessing of the Harvest, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Males Place farm and garden, at 1909 McAllister Drive in Charlotte.  More information about The Males Place can be found at www.TheMalesPlace.org.
If you have an inspiring story to share, please email Kevin Campbell, WSOC-TV/WAXN-TV community affairs manager, at Kevin.Campbell@wsoctv.com.

Cox Media Group

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