Brotherhood uplifting young men of color

Charlotte, N.C. – A North Carolina foundation is inspiring young men of color as they overcome challenges prevalent in our society today.

The Thornhill Rites of Passage Foundation was founded in 2016 by Wayne L. Thornhill and Michelle Thornhill. The couple’s sons motivated them to launch the foundation as a way to keep them safer during any interactions with law enforcement agencies. Over time, the foundation has grown into a resource to help young men of color, specifically seventh- and eighth-graders, in all areas of their lives.

This weekend, the foundation is holding a special ceremony to welcome the youth into their brotherhood. Ten young men will be inducted into the HūMan Rites of Passage (HūROP) Program. The formal rite of passage ceremony commemorates the preteens’ and teenagers’ dedication to finishing a yearlong program.

“We ensure young Black males have access to a future without limits,” Wayne Thornhill said in a press statement. “The young men will complete the final stage of the year-long program by delivering their public speech in two languages, receiving a blessing from their father, and participating in a confirmation stage that includes receiving a challenge coin from the previous cohort as a demonstration of being welcomed into a brotherhood for a lifetime.”

The young men being inducted into the brotherhood are:

• Noah Cohen, eighth grade
• Alston Collins, seventh grade
• Aiden Hollis, seventh grade
• Gavin Jones, eighth grade
• Ignatio “Dino” Lambos, eighth grade
• Ethan Lavoie, seventh grade
• Tyler Robbins, eighth grade
• Adam Robinson, eighth grade
• Cidney Wiggs, seventh grade
• Kingston Williams, seventh grade

The induction ceremony is happening during the Father’s Day and Juneteenth weekend. Foundation mentor Stratos Lambos says experiencing the rite of passage during this time holds huge significance. Lambos says it’s reinforcing the foundation’s commitment to young Black males, from now through adulthood.

“Set the stage that these young men coming up are coming up in a better way than ever before,” Lambos said. “They are empowered, encouraged and moving forward with their community and all communities. We lift [them up] so they can flourish.”

Gavin Jones, 14, says he joined the program to experience a male mentor in his life. “My dad lives in Florida at the moment, so it’s just been my mom,” Jones said. “I’ve never really had a male mentor in my life, so I take this very serious.”

Jones says his mentor, Lambos, has made a huge impact on his life. “He was so kind to show me different ways I can improve in life,” Jones said. “I’ve taken life more serious than just having fun all the time like I had before I entered the program. Now I’m focused on my future.”

For the past year, youth in HūROP have been participating in activities preparing them for the real world and manhood. This includes sessions on college preparedness, finances, and legal awareness. The teens also do social etiquette sessions at the restaurant Ilios Noche.

Jones says the lessons he’s learning from his mentors now are preparing him to be successful throughout adulthood while navigating obstacles in life. “Especially with how bad things are getting. It’s very important to learn how to deal with these situations,” Jones said.