State of Indiana Sponsored by The M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Indiana

1. During the period around 500-600 B.C. Pythagoras was considered the greatest scientist. Most of his life was spent traveling, studying the accumulated wisdom of the ancient world. His knowledge and wisdom lead to an academy knows as the Pythagorean Brotherhood. State of Indiana Sponsored by The M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Indiana

2. Mission and Purpose • Mission – The Knights of Pythagoras is a youth organization dedicated to the Fatherhood of God and the Universal Brotherhood of Man. • Purpose – Targeted at young African American boys between the ages of ten (10) and eighteen (18) to help them develop into young men the program promotes family values, provide educational scholarships, and play a significant role in the uplifting of humanity.

3. Statewide Structure M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Indiana 8 Districts 34 Lodges

4. Councils & Chapters • Grand Advisory Council – is chaired by the R.W. Director of Youth Activities and consist of Grand Advisors, District Youth Supervisors, Assistant District Youth Supervisors, Grand Advisory Council Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Chaplain. • Local Advisory Council – is chaired by the Advisor, who must be a Master Mason and consist of an Assistant Advisor. Each Council must secure a minimum of six African American Adult Males to serve as mentors to the Order of Pythagorans. • Chapter – works under the sponsorship and personal supervision of Prince Hall Masons to provide beneficial worthwhile companions, wholesome educational environment and a program aiming to interact and aid youth in their all-around development.

5. Chapters • Consists of a minimum of one tribe that includes an adult leader (must be a master mason), one peer leader 16 – 24 years of age, and five youth ages 10 – 18 years of age. The adult leader serves as mentor to the peer leader, and ensures that each of the remaining five youth are assigned a mentor. A chapter may consist of multiple tribes based upon its capacity. A Tribe

6. (30 hours per month) Qualifications Must be 36 years of age or older Must be a Master Mason Within one year must complete 40 hour ROP Trainer’s Training. Minimum three year commitment Duties Facilitates the chapter program and fundraising activities. Ensures appropriate documentation of program records. Work adult leaders in coordinating the development of the chapter. Attend and arrange for various meetings and other program activities. Serve on Local Advisory Council and completed necessary reports. Meet with parents and mentor at least once per month. Coordinate speakers for weekly roundtables Plan specific activities for annual calendar including field trips, community and spiritual activities. Recruit and facilitate the training of Adult Leaders and mentors. Engage parents support and engagement in the program. Conduct and/or ensures Rites of Passage and Making the Grade sessions are held weekly. Chapter Advisor

7. Adult Leader (20 hours per month) Qualifications Must be 25 years of age or older & background check Must be a Master Mason First year must complete 40 hour ROP Trainer’s Training. Minimum three year commitment Duties Ensure each youth is assigned a mentor Assist in conducting the chapter program and fundraising activities. Ensures appropriate documentation of tribes program records. Work one on one with peer leader in coordinating the development of the tribe. Attend and arrange for various meetings and other program activities. Regular meet with Chapter Advisor Meet with parents and mentor at least once per month. Mentor (10 hours per month) Qualifications Must be 25 years of age or older & background check Member of the lodge During first year must complete 16 hour ROP Mentor Training Minimum one year commitment. Duties One on one mentoring to a mentee Contact mentee at least twice per week, once in person. Contact parent at least twice per month. Attend roundtable meetings Document engagement with youth. Participate in monthly field trips and other program activities. Attend mentor council meeting at least once per month. Attend monthly church visit. Role Models • Peer Leader • (20 hours per month) • Qualifications • Must be 16 - 24 years of age & positive role model • High School/college student with 2.5 g.p.a. or better. • Must have completed at least two years of ROP training. • Minimum one year commitment. • Duties • Interacts twice a week with each of the mentees • Ensures mentees attendance at activities. • Serves as liaison between mentees and advisor. • Assist in organizing roundtable meetings and delivery of program sessions • Maintains records of participation for each member of the tribe. • Attend and assist in planning and coordinating field trips and other program activities. • Meet with other peer leaders at least once per month.

8. Weekly (3 hours) Making the Grade – one hour session that address skills in the content areas of math, language arts, reading, etc. Rites of Passage – once hour session that reunites youth with the origins of their peoples’ culture. Roundtable, one hour session that allow participants to discuss relevant issues of today with mentors and/or community leaders. Monthly (6 hours) Community Activity – two hours that brings together parents, mentors, elders and students to interact in a community activity or event. Spiritual Activity – visit to church, temple, mosque, etc. to foster introspection into the nature and origin of self. Field Trip – Outing with youth for either recreational or educational objective. Quarterly (2 hours) Ceremony – recognizes the progress and achievement of youth held at either local church, school or community center depending upon the nature of the ceremony. Annually January – conduct community service project associated with Rev. Martin Luther King celebration. February – conduct Recognition of local African American Male leaders that made significant contribution. March – Visit Black Institutions such s colleges, museums, etc. April – Third Sunday Black Youth Day celebration. May – Parent Recognition each chapter is requested to have special meeting for this purpose. June - Annual Program and Financial Reports submitted. African American Male Teen Summit held. July - Rites of Passage Annual Training Conference and State Assemblage. August – Career Day September – Visit to local, county, state government councils. October – Membership Drive November – community service project – seniors in nursing homes, etc. December – community service project – feeding program, Christmas baskets, etc. Calendar

9. Developing A Chapter • Identify interest and capacity of the local lodge. • Based upon interest and capacity determine if local lodge needs to partner with other lodge(s) to formulate a chapter. • Identify local youth service organization that provide mentoring services to target age group. • Based upon interest and capacity discuss how local lodge can work with local youth organization to provide mentors as volunteers. • Develop a memorandum of understanding with local youth service organization outlining their role and local lodge role in providing mentoring services. • Assess effectiveness, commitment, and capacity of lodge and local youth service organization ability to deliver mutually agreed upon services, 30 days, 90 days, 6 months, and annually thereafter. • Based upon 6 month assessment determine lodge capacity to formulate a Order of Pythagoras Chapter. • Complete application requesting chapter.

10. Admittance of a Chapter • Complete application. • Obtain support of a minimum of seven lodge members to commit to serving a one year term as a mentor. • At least one of the seven must meet the qualifications of an Advisor and be willing to serve in that role. • Advisor must be committed to filling the necessary requirements to become a “certified” Ten Steps Rites of Passage Trainer and provide to the chapter members. • All lodge chapter members commit to meeting the requirements to become Ten Steps Rites of Passage “certified” mentors. • Chapter commits to generating the necessary resources to operate the program for a minimum of three years. • Chapter names shall be based upon one of the following criteria: • Impactful African American Male, local, district, state, or national • Ancestry Figure

11. Chapter Annual Incomeper tribe

12. Chapter Annual Expensesper tribe

13. Pilot Lodges

14. Timeline • February 28, 2011 - PowerPoint presentation presented to GM Morton • March 31, 2011 – Presentation refined for GM Morton final approval • April 29, 2011 - Linshaell Group's program finalized, approved by GM Morton. • May 30, 2011 - Develop program documents to include 1)template memorandum of understanding (MOU) 2) Chapter’s application form, 3) Program impact assessment system, 4) Chapter Readiness assessment tool, 5) How to Manual and obtain approval from Grand Lodge. • June 30, 2011 - Secure funds necessary for our pilot program, as well as for all districts, putting the funds in our KOP (Order of Knights of Pythagoras) account, under the direction & supervision of Grand Lodge  • July 30, 2011 – adult leaders at pilot districts trained on Ten Steps Rites of Passage. • August 30, 2011 - with funds procured for all phases of the program, each adult leader in our pilot districts begins to find & define the 6 (six) members of its pride • September 1, 2011 - KOP Rites of Passage program implemented in our pilot districts • November 21, 2011 - during the Thanksgiving break we present the first survey forms to the young men in our pilot program to form an evaluation of the program • November 30, 2011 - the evaluation forms will be looked at & considered • December 30, 2011 - Ellis & Maye will determine any changes to result from the evaluation • January 31, 2012 – adult leaders in remaining districts trained on Ten Steps Rites of Passage. • March 31, 2012 - KOP Rites of Passage program is implemented in all 8 districts