Now there's a new crusade in Oakland to help young black men find alternatives to risky behavior. The Male Advocacy in Pregnancy and Parenting (MAPP) Coalition is seeking mentors through its program called CHOICES.

On Monday, as the nation celebrates the birthday of Martin Luther King Junior, organizers and supporters will gather at the Oakland Arena for a conference and games. Young people are being invited to take part in pickup basketball games for the "Play Where the Pros Play" event, which starts at 1:45 p.m. and runs for two hours, according to Darryl McMillon, MAPP director.

For the young people, basketball is the lure -- much like it is for midnight basketball programs that use sports to encourage young people to attend personal development classes. On Monday, the lure is the chance to play on the same court where the Warriors and NBA stars such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have played, McMillon said.

"After the games, we are going to hold a forum on ways to prevent youth violence and risk reduction."

"We want to get commitments from clergy and business owners, especially black-owned businesses, to come out and agree to become mentors to young men who need positive men as role models in their lives," McMillon said Thursday.

Monday's program will be the culmination of three other forums. Attendees from those gatherings are going to participate along with 150 persons recruited from churches and community-based agencies and nonprofit groups.

McMillon hopes to enlist 15 East Bay congregations as so-called "partner churches" and another dozen community organizations to help with mentor recruitment. There are also plans for five future CHOICES workshops and activities.

So far, five churches have agreed to participate in the Faith-Based Role Model Recruitment Campaign. Plans call for the pastors at the five churches to form teams and a 60-member Campaign Advisory Committee.

MAPP was formed in September 2000 to provide alternatives for young people who become parents and but are not ready to care for children or make other important decisions.

It has sponsored a series of workshops at schools, group homes, juvenile hall and other agencies in East Oakland and Richmond.

The Oakland Tribune: Bay Area Living
Kari Hulac, Features Editor
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