Byrdsong Award Page

IFI / RICKY BYRDSONG AWARD

2009

Bartell Keithley

Bartell Keithley's employment with the Chicago Urban League as a life coach and as a case manager with the Male Involvement Program has been exemplary. He always goes the extra mile with and for his clients. Bartell works with young men, age 18 to 40 years of age, who are custodial or non-custodial fathers who want to make a difference in the lives of their children. The primary focus of the life coach is to teach
men how to be better fathers –emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Bartell has been an excellent teacher and mentor to his clients. He has often led by example, sharing with his clients his personal life journey and his experiences as a father. A significant part of his work has been his leadership in the Wednesday afternoon “Focus Groups”. Bartell has consistently demonstrated excellent leadership in these sessions helping these men to become better and more responsible fathers. A significant portion of this program also involves activities for the fathers with their children. Bartell has been an excellent role model and teacher, helping the men to become more comfortable with their role as a father. Bartell has been our lead instructor in the Effective Parenting Classes. The men of the program look up to him and often return to the program to seek his wisdom and guidance in becoming better parents.

During the course of the past four years Bartell has also participated in a program at the Chicago Urban League, the African American Male Adolescent Initiative. This program has taken over 300 CPS students on trips to historically black colleges. The tours were designed give students a sense of purpose and exposure to an environment that would influence their academic and professional decisions. Bartell
did this work in addition to his regularly assigned work with the Male Involvement Program. Bartell has written several letters of recommendations for students, one of which contributed to a CPS student receiving the Millennium-Gates Scholarship which pays for college tuition from B.A. through Ph.D. The student who received this award is currently at Clark-Atlanta University. In addition to his work at the Chicago Urban League, Bartell has worked with youth for several years with other organizations. As a substitute teacher for the Chicago School System (CPS) he worked with children in grades K-12. He has also taken CPS students to Ghana, West Africa to give them a clearer understanding of what life is like for other Africans in the world, to give them global exposure and increase their self-esteem.

In addition to his exceptional skills as a life coach and case manager, Bartell has other significant volunteer experiences. Bartell currently mentors several students and he is deeply committed to helping all youth understand their purpose in life; he works with them to develop strategies for achieving their goals and continually strives to insure that young people have the self-esteem needed to achieve their
goals. Bartell has also taken an average of 40 students to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice - Breaking the Silence Youth Summit in Washington D.C. Bartell has also worked in another volunteer program at CPS entitled -- Morning Wake Ups for students. In this program, volunteers telephone students who are having problems getting to class on time. The wake up calls provided words of inspiration to let young people see how close they are to success.

Bartell is also founder of the Embrace the World Campaign. This organization uses video production as a tool to create self-awareness and address various self-esteem issues which young people face by providing them with links to their counter-parts in different part of the world.

Bartell Keithley has been a tremendous husband to his wife Tracy and he has equally been a devoted father to his daughters. He has willingly taken on the responsibilities of both roles. He literally beams when he talks about his family. Bartell’s compassion is forged by a strong faith in God. He speaks of his faith often and shares his spiritual experiences with others. He is an active member of the Trinity Unity Church of Christ where he also serves as a deacon and works with youth in the church.

Illinois Fatherhood Initiative presented Bartell Keithley with the 2009 IFI / Ricky Byrdsong Award.

October 2009