Cornelius Smith, a safety officer at Berkeley High School, backed away from the whiteboard where he had written “RESPECT” in big letters.
“Pull up that word,” he told the group of about six students in front of him, “I want you to read the definition of that word.”
This is a common occurrence in J-205, the classroom tucked away into the back of BHS where the Coaching Boys Into Men group meeting takes place every Wednesday. The group attendance can range from 12 to 25 boys.
Oftentimes, Smith focuses with the boys on an important word — like “respect,” “accountability,” or “goals.”
“Sometimes kids don’t even understand a word and they don’t know what it means,” Smith said, “People use words a lot, but really don’t have the true meaning and understanding of the word.”
This group is a resource that helps boys with character building, accomplishing their goals, furthering their education, and overall supporting them — whether that be with reassurance and love, or food and clothes. That’s why, Smith explained, the boys show up to these meetings — the sincere love they receive, as well as the respect, honesty, fairness, and consistency of the meetings.
“They know we love them whether they do good or bad, and they know we gonna always be fair,” Smith said, “We’re gonna always tell them what’s right. We gonna lead by example … We don’t switch up, we don’t change up. You know we got you.”
One member of the group is Derrick Coney, a BHS junior. Coney has attended the group since the middle of last year, and plans to attend until he graduates. Coney explained that he keeps going to classroom J-205 because it helps him find opportunities for after high school and provides him with community.
“I think I get a sense of a community of my own, since it is mainly African American scholars,” Coney said, “ … I know it’s an environment of people that are similar to me.”
Oftentimes, Smith presents job opportunities and internships to the boys in these meetings. Jobs are mostly with the City of Berkeley, and often include positions like summer camp counselors. This valuable resource not only allows students to gain job experience, but also provides them with the opportunity to make money, and support their family, if need be.
“We’ve had a couple of kids work the past summer, which is good, and they were able to … save or help with the load, or (with) school (and) clothes in their household (and) not being a financial burden,” Smith said.
However, Smith said that paperwork that parents must sign often inhibits the students in the group from being able to do jobs or take internships.
“Sometimes the parents don’t get the paperwork in a timely fashion, and so the kid is not able to move forward in (the opportunities) that they apply for,” Smith said.
In addition to supporting students by helping them build character, connecting them to job opportunities, and discussing important words and ideas, Smith and former school resource officer Austin Mitchell often provide around-the-clock support. They both have received many calls from students that have had an accident, a medical emergency, or that were hurt, stuck somewhere, or grieving peers that had been killed.
To support the kids on another level as well, Smith and Mitchell also try to help obtain clothing for anyone that needs it, as well as provide food at their meetings. They even help students with transportation to and from school, or to a sports practice, by paying for an Uber or Lyft to get them there.
“I give a lot of money out my own pocket. Officer Mitchell does (too) ... I can’t tell you how much money I give during the week, or officer Mitchell, for Uber, Lyft, or for food,” Smith said.
Although this group has technically only been around for a little over a year, Smith and Mitchell have been wanting to create a group like this for years. Even before they officially got classroom J-205 to operate in, they were already having discussions with the boys.
“I saw a need … for the young men that have certain concerns and needs,” Smith said, “ … and just seeing that need in all aspects working on campus and closely with the students, and having a space and an outlet for them to share, and/or help bring their goals and visions and dreams to pass. Unearth that talent that they have — to make that a decision.”
Smith sees this need in the young women on campus too, and they hope to start a girls’ version of the group.
“I wish more adults would contribute to the furtherance of building character. When the kids graduate after four years, they have another 45 years outside this campus to be successful in life and be viable,” Smith said.
In the end, no matter what obstacles the group members face, BHS students continue to meet in J-205 — building character, harnessing opportunities, and forming connections with each other.
“We let them voice their concerns, and we deal with their concerns,” Smith said, “We love you, regardless of who you are … And the kids know that, and they respect that.”