ABOUT ENDORSE PEACE FOUNDER, BLACK DIAMOND

Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars…Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
- Martin Luther King Jr.

If there is a word in the dictionary to best describe Endorse Peace founder, Black Diamond, that word would have to be Perseverance! He is the CEO, founder, and inspirational leader of Endorse Peace.

Created following the Los Angeles Gang Truce Movement in 1992, Endorse Peace is a human rights organization that advocates non violent solutions to some of the world’s most difficult challenges. It starts with the individual by encouraging them to endorse the concept of peace…not just as a philosophy, but as a way of solving problems! It then teaches specific tools and strategies to use that mindset and change one’s life, impacting the community at large. Endorse Peace starts from the inside and radiates outward, impacting everyone it touches in a life changing way. But his creation has become so much more then an anti-gang movement. Endorse Peace has evolved into a human rights advocacy mission that is taking the concept of ‘peaceful resolution’ all around the world. And it all began with Black Diamond’s simple request…’Cease Fire!’

Hailing from South Central Los Angeles, Black Diamond came of age in the mid 1970’s, at the dawn of a new cultural movement sweeping the city following the 1965 Watts Riots. This dynamic environment was one that empowered African-American men in both positive and negative ways, leading some into the civil rights movement and others into gang life. Black Diamond was part of the original ‘Bloods’, who became nearly as well known as the city itself for their war with the ‘Crips’ street gang. Their early struggles for control of the South Central streets in many ways mirrored the war raging in Vietnam during that period. By the end of the 1980’s thousands of lives had been destroyed and an entire generation of men were displaced.

His story would have ended in an all too familiar tale had it not been for a group of school teachers, mentors, and life changing events that made him alter his way of thinking. “On the day my daughter was born, I looked into her face and decided that I needed to put the guns down! I wanted to bring her up in a different world then the one that I came from”, he recounts. From that moment forward, Black Diamond began looking for ways to change his life.

By 1992, Black Diamond was a completely different individual, with family responsibilities and community work dominating his free time. Remembering his promise, he decided to go beyond his own life change and joined with local business leaders, public officials and other civic-minded individuals to form a non-profit organization, South Central LOVE. The group was committed to stopping the cycles of poverty, welfare and violence that plague the nation’s inner-city areas. South Central LOVE (an acronym for Let Our Vision Educate), was joined in this effort by congresswoman Maxine Waters, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League John Mack, Los Angeles School Supervisor Barbara Brudouex, and actor/rap artist Ice-T.

Black Diamond began working with the artist and entertainment community based in Los Angeles to help promote the organization’s goals. He also partnered with several individuals including Dick Griffey, founder of Solar records, and attorney Virgil Roberts. This original movement morphed into the current organization now known simply as Endorse Peace. With new name in hand, he empowered low-income communities by supplying schools with computer labs and educational software to further develop student computer literacy skills. Over the years it has grown to include gang prevention, peer to peer networks, academic mentorship, women’s programs, kids programs, counseling for inmates, and many other community based initiatives.

Black Diamond also firmly believes that job creation and the ability to make a viable living must be an integral part of the equation. He reasons that if someone has the potential to become your customer, then you may no longer waste time dealing with him as an enemy. To that end he crafted Endorse Peace into a retail apparel brand that is sold in stores, online and supported by many celebrities, athletes, politicians and taste-makers. “If the kids think it’s cool to wear the gear, then maybe, just maybe the message will sink in,” he reasons.

Now in the second decade of his mission, Black Diamond is taking the Endorse Peace message around the world. He has come to realize that endorsing the concept of peaceful resolution to any conflict resonates just as effectively in streets of Jerusalem, as the streets of South Central, LA. “Just like President Obama, I’m going city to city, ghetto to ghetto, and block to block taking this message everywhere I can,” he states enthusiastically. “If they can put the guns down and embrace love right here on the East and West side, then I believe they can do it on the West Bank, East Africa, and every other East and West in this world! If you really stop and think about it, we are all from the same neighborhood!”

ABOUT ENDORSE PEACE >

Mission Statement
The mission of the Endorse Peace Foundation is to help stem the tide—or break the cycle—violence that plagues our cities by sponsoring community economic development opportunities for youth through education and training. We seek to stabilize and revitalize communities by collaborating to provide the resources necessary for schools, community-based and faith-based organizations to administer programs that will empower our youth to start businesses, develop careers and achieve a level of computer literacy that will enable them to compete in an ever changing global economy.

Our History
In 1992, former gang member Anthony Dodson, aka, Black Diamond, decided to choose PEACE and joined local business leaders, public officials, and civic-minded individuals to form a non-profit organization, South Central L.O.V.E., to improve the community. South Central L.O.V.E. (an acronym Let Our Vision Educate) was committed to stopping the cycles of poverty, welfare and violence that plague the nation’s inner-city areas.

It is from these efforts that in 2001the Endorse Peace Foundation was born.

Community Involvement
It is a well-known fact that the level of violence being committed by our young people has escalated to epidemic proportions. The lack of hope and perceived lack of options and resources has only served to fuel this vicious cycle. The result is that a growing number of our youth have turned to gangs, drugs and other criminal activities. Also, inner city schools have been historically under funded thereby leaving schools unable to provide the educational tools necessary for students, many of whom are underprivileged, to become successful. In addition the fact that most low-income families do not own a home computer has increased the gap that was created by the digital divide. Through education and training we can demonstrate to our youth that there is another way to solve problems and obtain financial security.

PROGRAMMING

The Endorse Peace Foundation seeks to stabilize neighborhoods, revitalize communities and provide economic opportunities by providing funding to non-profit organizations that serve low-income families and individuals in the areas of Micro-Enterprise Development, Career Development and Computer Training.

All organizations that receive grants from Endorse Peace will be required to adhere to the guidelines established under the Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) standards.

There are six national goals using ROMA:

1. Family: Low-income people become more self-sufficient.
2. Community: The conditions in which low-income people live are improved.
3. Community: Low-income people own a stake in their community
4. Agency: Partnerships among supporters and providers of services to low-income people are achieved.
5. Agency: Agencies increase their capacity to achieve results.
6. Family: Low-income people especially vulnerable populations, achieve their potential by strengthening family and other supportive environments.

A. Computer Training
The Endorse Peace Foundation will sponsor a family oriented computer-training program entitled Bridging the Gap. The program begins with an essay contest for students in grades 6 trough 8. The theme of the one page essay is “What My Family and I Could Do Together If We Had a Home Computer…” Ten winners will be selected at which time; the parents and students will get the opportunity to attend an 8-week computer-training course. Upon successful completion of the training course, the families will receive a new Dell Computer.

Outcome Measures: Goals 1 & 6

B. Employment Training
The Endorse Peace Foundation will provide funding to organizations that administer employment training and placement services to both unemployed and underemployed youth, especially those organizations that specialize in career development.

Outcome Measures: Goals 1 & 2

C. Micro-Enterprise Development
Endorse Peace will provide funding to organizations that administer training opportunities for people (with an emphasis on youth) from the low-income community to start and or expand small businesses in areas that are considered historically underutilized business zones located in the community. Historically, a Micro-Enterprise is defined as a business that employees five or fewer people and requires up to $35,000 to start.

Outcome Measures: Goals 1, 2 & 3

D. Endorse Peace Scholarship Program
Endorse Peace will award scholarships to students from low-income families who actively participate in community service activities.

Outcome Measure: Goal 6

PARTNERSHIPS

Endorse Peace will seek to establish partnerships with local governments, churches, school districts, and community-based organizations, faith-based and international celebrities to support the Endorse Peace mission.

Outcome Measure: Goals 4 & 5

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Become an Endorse Peace member by purchasing an Endorse Peace shirt. Click here to purchase a shirt >

Learn more at www.EndorsePeace.org