The 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement will sponsor a workshop this Friday and Saturday for young men.

The first Believe Leadership Camp will encourage male students age 13 to 16 to become leaders in their community.

“This is kind of a way to get their feet wet, and to introduce them to the roles leaders play, and why it’s important to be a community focused leader,” said coordinator of the 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement Jerria Martin.

The organization received a $75,000 grant from the Black Belt Community Foundation to work with young minority men and boys.

This weekend’s camp at the Selma Holiday Inn Express and Suites will be the first of three sessions scheduled between now and September.

Friday night will serve as an icebreaker, allowing campers to become familiar with each other and the goals of the workshop.

Saturday will focus on trust and team-building exercises. In addition, former professor at Loyola University New Orleans and non-violence specialist Ted Quant will provide the young men with lessons in how to react to hostile situations without resorting to aggression.

“The awesome thing about the nonviolence training is it not only teaches them lessons about conflict resolution, but it also teaches them how to teach their peers,” Martin said.

The camp will also cover increasing graduation rates, helping young men who have been exposed to violence and trauma, promoting career training opportunities and stressing the importance of positive role models.

Leaders from all walks of life will be also present to mentor participants.

“We really do need encouragement in our city, more than ever because of all of the violence that has taken place,” she said. “I want them to walk out that door at the Holiday Inn Express and say ‘I am a leader. I am a community-focused leader.’”