He didn’t cry either at the funeral service or at the cemetery. I met Bruce’s teenage grandson at the funeral. Like so many kids I see today, out front I wore an “ I’m OKAY” mask. and became a kid who was emotionally bound up, pressurized, and lived with a thick veneer as a shield over all that anger and sadness. In fact, the absence of any support, or even positive role modeling around dealing with loss and grief, communicated a pretty clear message: You’re on your own, just deal with it. To make it worse, I faced those tragedies alone, without any guidance, grief tools, or support. Those were all big losses for an innocent young man. There was the death of my grandfather, my much loved dog, my mother, dear friends moving away, and the heartbreak of my first teen love affair ending. As a young male in an alcoholic home, there were lots and lots of disappointments, and big personal losses too.

It actually felt really good to let the tears fly, use lots of tissues, and just be a very sad mess. At the service for Bruce, I was able to touch a deep well of grief, not just for him, but for all the other good friends and family that have passed. Grief is difficult business for which most of us have little preparation. At his service, just days after his passing, all of his family and friends tried to find a way to cope with the idea he was not going to be with us any longer. He was a very good man, wasn’t supposed to die, and I’m still in shock. My pal Bruce died unexpectedly a couple weeks ago at age 79. You can donate at the FirstGiving donation site, or make a check out to Warrior Films c/o Ever Forward Club, and send it to The Ever Forward Club, Ashanti Branch, 7514 Holly St. If you’re inclined to make a donation in support of one very reliable man-maker, working in extremely challenging circumstances, and getting extraordinary results, I know Ashanti will put the funds to good use. You can learn more about The Ever Forward Club on his website,, or you can email Ashanti directly. In ten years, Ashanti Branch has touched thousands of lives, and the positive reverberations of that impact just can’t be measured. What I love about his story is that it’s another tale of how much difference one very motivated man can make. Makes me wish I had an Ashanti in my life growing through my teen years. If you took the time to listen, you’ll see why I so respect and honor Ashanti for his powerful dedication to the young males in his world. If the player isn't visible, click on this direct link. If you like hearing about real man-making, this short clip will be very much worth your time.Ĭlick the arrow to start play (may take a second to load) I just love the part where he tells us what keeps him in this challenging work. You’ll also hear how Ashanti’s 'young male' literacy has evolved over time. In the recording below, you can hear how the EFC got started, how it’s grown, and about the four core principles of Academic Development, Personal Development, Community Development, and Family Development, that have made it so successful. I recently spoke with Ashanti to learn more about what he's learned in his 10 years with The Ever Forward Club. His current goal is to bring the EFC to 20 middle schools and 20 high schools by the fall of 2015, potentially supporting as many as 1,000 individual students! I have no doubt Ashanti will reach that goal! It’s easy to see why Ashanti Branch is on my list of heroes and a brother in mission. If you work in this field, you know the power in those numbers and the many small victories it's taken to achieve that degree of success.

1000+ students, faculty, family and friends have participated in their Annual 24 Hour Relay Challenge which promotes community building and healthy living.

90% of the EFC graduates attend 2 or 4 year colleges after high school.

100% of the EFC members have graduated high school.

Over the years of tracking the progress of their EFC participants, they have recorded some incredible statistics. In the last ten years, Ashanti has put together a solid, school-based program that's had an amazing impact on countless numbers of kids, a couple of inner-city schools, and their surrounding communities.

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