On Saturday, June 16 Andre “007” Barnes, a former member of the gangsta rap group the 5th Ward Boyz, will hold the M.E.N. (Mentoring Educating Networking) Mentor Celebration in north Houston. The event is designed to honor and educate males of all ages in matters of finances, family, and faith.
“Double 0”, who is now a business owner and dedicated Christian rapper, claims he didn’t know his own father until the age of 22 after he had already achieved a criminal record and success as a recording artist on Rap-A-Lot Records. He said he was driven to organize the affair after seeing alarming statistics about the often negative fate (incarceration/homelessness, etc.) of children who grow up without a dad.
“Too often it seems like Christians only speak to the spiritual side of things,” Barnes said. “I wanted to take a holistic approach and offer people something besides advice to ‘just pray about it.’
“Don’t get me wrong, I love and value the power of prayer, but we can also offer some practical solutions to issues that face men and their families.”
Barnes enlisted speakers and sponsors from Comercia Bank and other local businesses, former Houston City Councilmember Jarvis Johnson, and Christian rappers Bobby “Tre9” Herring and Gifted da Flamethrowa to play a part in the day of workshops and celebration.
007 has also been involved with The Empowerment Community Center’s young male mentorship program over the last year and guided members of its Eagle Scholars Student program through an 18 week course that ended with them taking an all-expenses paid field trip to Washington, D.C. to further their education.
Click here to find out more about the free event and register to attend.
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