Part of a year-long series, presented by The American and the Brown School at Washington University, on changing the narratives and outcomes of young black males in St. Louis.
I am grateful to be alive and in relatively good health. Many black men who were born and raised under impoverished conditions don’t live long enough to tell their story of overcoming the many obstacles that clogged their path and the joy of the journey.
I am grateful to have been raised by a loving mother and father and caring brothers and sisters allowing me to share this same love and gratitude with my wife of 37 years, a son and grandchildren, and the community I have dedicated my life to serve.
I am grateful to have traveled to many parts of the world, especially the black world of Africa, where I served in Mali, West Africa for three years with the United States Peace Corps. While living in Mali I learned to speak elementary French, worked on a major sanitation project for the capital city of Bamako, played basketball on a semi-professional Malian team, and became the first black American to be given a plot of land from the government.
I am grateful for having kept my pledge to do all I can in the way I can to advance the interest, aspirations and ideas of the black community and, by extension, marginalized people the world over.
I am grateful for the opportunity, through the organized vehicle of Better Family Life, Inc., to have spent the better part of the last 40 years intentionally working to assist underserved people through youth, workforce, housing, community engagement, and cultural arts programs. These combined efforts have helped to lift thousands out of poverty to live respectable lives and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
I am grateful to the people who have worked with us and those who still make up the Better Family Life family. Thanks to the brave BFL soldiers/leaders including DeBorah Ahmed, James Clark, Darryl Grimes, Tyrone Turner, Miranda Jones, Connie Wilson and the courageous Board of Directors. They are trailblazers in community development.
Many of the youth who have participated in our youth development programs are now adults raising children. They have become outstanding professionals, impactful leaders and are making significant contributions to their respective communities. They fire my grateful soul.Â
The work we do with the support of a phenomenal staff is monumental. The impact we are having on families, youth and children, public safety and economic redevelopment is a proud story that has not been fully told. I am equally grateful for the partnerships we have developed, consisting of government agencies, educational institutions, community organizations and a multitude of individuals who provide us with support, love and financial contributions.
I give all of this gratitude to the God I serve for blessing me with the vision, tenacity and courage to struggle on in spite of road blocks, setbacks and naysayers. On many occasions, I have fallen down due to my own faults, have been criticized, failed to achieve what I have sought, been disappointed with people around me, yet I remain grateful and steadfast in my belief that good will triumph.
I remain steadfast that BFL will continue its inspirational work and that our people, families and communities will grow and prosper. I extend heartfelt gratitude to all.
Malik Ahmed is CEO and founder of Better Family Life, Inc.
“Homegrown Black Males” is a partnership between HomeGrown STL at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis and The St. Louis American, edited by Sean Joe, Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor and associate dean at the Brown School, and Chris King, managing editor of The American, in memory of Michael Brown.
