New Brother to Brother chapter formed at Adrian College

ADRIAN — A new organization of young men supporting each other’s academic success while strengthening both their school and community has been formed at Adrian College.

The new Brother to Brother (B2B) chapter was initiated at Adrian College during the week of Feb. 13. Tyrone Bledsoe, founder and CEO of SAAB, helped AC students create the campus chapter. B2B structures its work through six committees: academics; personal development; service; membership/public relations; equity, inclusion and social cohesion; and financial affairs, a news release from Adrian College said.

In order to create the group at AC, students needed to form a steering committee of at least 15-20 students along with two or more staff representatives, the release said. They also needed to work together to come up with a strategic plan.

AC junior Jalen Adams helped create the SAAB chapter and hopes to be its president or vice president. According to the release, he expects to have enough student participation to easily meet the required numbers and plans to have enough interest to keep the chapter going for years to come.

“A key thing to this is getting not only juniors and seniors involved, but new incoming students, so when our leaders graduate there is someone coming up behind them to pick up that role,” he said. “Dr. Bledsoe has inspired me since I first met him back in September.”

Bledsoe was the guest speaker for Adrian College’s opening convocation for the fall semester. He made an impact when addressing the college about the topic of “Learning Throughout a Lifetime.” It made so much of an impact that students like Adams speak of Bledsoe in high regard, referring to him an as “incredible man.”

“I’ll never forget it,” Adams continued. “I first shook his hand and he said, ‘Hey, you shake my hand like you know me.’

“...I always learn something from him (Bledsoe) and take a piece of what he says and incorporate it into my game every time.”

SAAB is a national organization with 355 chapters in 41 states. It endeavors to instill a “spirit of care” and enhance the experiences of young males of color in the country, the release said. It has a mantra of “Saving lives and salvaging dreams.”

A brand refresh of the organization took place about two years ago, Bledsoe said in the release, and the organization no longer spells out its name, which originally was Student African American Brotherhood. Instead, it is referred to as SAAB or some chapters have the option of calling the organization Brother to Brother, which Adrian College is opting to do.

Bledsoe revisited AC’s campus this month to help structure the new campus chapter. As part of a presentation, he highlighted statistics derived from Equal Measure, a nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia that partners with foundations, other nonprofits and government organizations to apply new ways of thinking and learning to advance social change, about SAAB/Brother to Brother.

Fifty-three percent of members reported A’s and B’s, while 32% reported B’s and C’s, the release said. Ninety-five percent of members remained enrolled through the year and 72% were on track to graduate. Ninety-eight percent of members said they are set on achieving a four-year degree or higher.

SAAB has a national databank that tracks the progress of all of its members, from middle school to the collegiate level, and its alumni.

“The U.S. needs talent,” Bledsoe said. “We have a lot of jobs in our country that people aren’t qualified for. There is a talent gap. Everybody is looking for good talent, and corporations are also looking for diversity. So, certainly, we’re an appealing organization to connect with because we have young men of color. We have partnerships with law firms, banks, energy companies and many other businesses.”

The organization’s membership is diverse, Bledsoe said. Its Latino population has grown significantly within the past five years, particularly in Texas, California and Chicago.

Bledsoe said Adrian College President Jeffrey Docking told him he wants Adrian College's B2B chapter to be “one of the strongest chapters in the country.”

Before transitioning to his role with SAAB, Bledsoe served as vice president for student life and special assistant to the president at the University of Toledo. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees from Mississippi State University, and went on to complete a Ph.D. in counseling and student affairs administration with an emphasis in counseling psychology at the University of Georgia.

His work has been featured in the Harvard University Educational Review Journal and, recently, the College Board awarded him the Dr. Asa G. Hilliard Model of Excellence Award for his work mentoring and supporting Black males.

The Campaign for Black Male Achievement awarded Bledsoe its “Beloved Community Award” for his impact on Black males. In 2020, an article in Forbes magazine called him a “contemporary inspiration.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: New Brother to Brother chapter formed at Adrian College