Still Opening Doors: The Legacy of Moses Gray
Moses Gray understood that opening a door for yourself was only part of the work. What mattered was whether you held it open for someone coming behind you. He did that throughout his life. Gray came to Indiana to play football at Indiana University, where he became a standout athlete before going on to […]
The Next 100: Building Black Leadership on Campus and Beyond
At some point, the young people we mentor transform into leaders. For The 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, that transition is increasingly taking place on college campuses. Through partnerships with Ball State University and IU Indianapolis, The 100 supports Collegiate 100 chapters that put college students in charge of building organizations around the needs they […]
Who Do You Want to Become? The Enduring Influence of Willis Bright
At some point during The Beautillion Militaire Scholarship Program, Willis Bright wants the young men to get personal. Who are you? What do you want from your career? What kinds of relationships do you want to build? Where do you hope to be five or 10 years from now? They are big questions to put […]
Finding Her Voice, Building Her Future: How The 100 Helped Calajah Miller Step Into Leadership
Before Calajah Miller stood on stage beside Matthew Fultz as co-emcee of the 2025 100 Black Men of Indianapolis fundraising breakfast, before she earned nearly $20,000 in scholarships, before she represented Indianapolis at the national convention for 100 Black Men of America twice—there was a phone call. Senior year. College applications stacking up. Scholarship deadlines […]
From Reluctant to Ready: How The 100 Helped Malik Find His Voice and His First $1,000 Investment
Malik was helping his uncle move when he found the photograph. Tucked inside an old program book from 100 Black Men of Indianapolis was a Beautillion portrait from more than a decade ago. Young men in suits. Poised. Polished. Future-focused. And among them was his uncle, Jamal. At the time, Malik didn’t realize he was […]
From the Screen to the Boardroom: How The 100 Helped Garland Davenport Jr. Find His Future
Ask Robin Coleman what her son Garland would be doing if he hadn’t found 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, and she does not hesitate: “He’d be playing video games.” She says it warmly—Garland is good at them, good enough that he once considered pursuing a gaming scholarship for college. But there is something underneath the […]
The 100 Society: An Invitation to Stand With the Next Generation
For more than forty years, 100 Black Men of Indianapolis has been investing in young people in our community. Through our programs—financial literacy, leadership development, history education, summer academy, entrepreneurship, The Beautillion, and reading initiatives—dedicated and consistent mentors, and college scholarships: we continue to invest in futures. We have been investing in futures. In the […]
Building Futures Together: Inside The 100 Black Men of Indianapolis Team Mentoring Program
On Saturday morning in Indianapolis, something powerful unfolds. Young men arrive—some curious, some uncertain, some quietly carrying questions about who they are and who they might become. They are greeted not by lectures or expectations, but by community. They share breakfast. They talk. They listen. And slowly, week by week, they begin to see new […]
How the 100 Black Men’s Team Mentoring Program Is Shaping the Next Generation of Leaders
When Crystal Meiller searched “mentoring programs for Black boys near me,” she wasn’t thinking about long-term outcomes or leadership pipelines. She was thinking about her son and ensuring he had the guidance she couldn’t provide. Jaeden was in fourth grade, growing up during the isolation and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a single mother, […]
Purpose in Practice: The Legacy of Bill Mays
In Indianapolis, Bill Mays is widely known for the national success of his company, Mays Chemical. But those who worked alongside him and benefited from his leadership remember something more deliberate at work: business was never an end in itself. It was the means by which he created the capacity to give, invest, and strengthen […]