By Shawn Dove

If you weren’t listening intently to President Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, you might have easily missed when he declared, “I am reaching out to some of America’s leading foundations and corporations on a new initiative to help more young men of color facing especially tough odds stay on track and reach their full potential.”

This was a groundbreaking statement for the field of black male achievement. And, it was no accident that the nod to young men of color was nestled between two other seminal remarks: “I will work with Congress to see how we can help even more Americans who feel trapped by student loan debt,” and “Michelle and I want every child to have the same change this country gave us.” While there were no recorded cheers or applause from the floor of the State of the Union, my twitter feed suddenly blew up with a standing ovation, cheers, and enthusiastic responses from so many people who care deeply about helping black boys grow up in a country where there is a level playing field for them to reach their full potential. 

 And, later I was heartened when Gwen Ifill, the broadcast reporter on PBS Newshour, asked Angela Glover Blackwell, CEO of PolicyLink, to comment on the president’s historic remark.  Angela’s words reinforced the president’s message: “The focus on women, boys and men of color, and immigration suggested that when you invest on those that are left behind, you do well for America. Lifting up boys and men of color was in that vain. It is important to engage corporations, foundations, the federal government, and as many programs that touch boys and men of color.”

That night, I couldn’t help but think of the many heads, hands, and hearts that have worked with commitment and compassion for decades to improve the life outcomes of black boys and what the president’s declaration meant to them. I also thought of the over 2,200 leaders who are members of the Institute for Black Male Achievement and how they must have received the president’s words with an infusion of inspiration and hope for their continued work. And, yes, I even thought of my own declaration seven months ago after President Obama’s remarks to the nation following the not-guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman trial for the murder of Trayvon Martin when I wrote “If in the coming weeks and months, philanthropy keeps with the status quo, we will have missed the opportunity given to us by this catalytic moment in U.S. history.”

The President has deemed 2014 a year of action. For Americans who care about this issue, his announcement that the government is committed to transforming the lives of young men of color is a huge inspiration. I am particularly encouraged from my platform as manager of the Open Society Foundations Campaign for Black Male Achievement to witness the field of philanthropy moving to maximize this opportunity to improve the life outcomes of black males.

This year of action is already in effect for the field of black male achievement. For example, filmmakers Michele Stephenson and Joe Brewster are using their documentary American Promise to organize the upcoming National Black Male Achievement Week, Joe Jones, CEO of the Center for Urban Families in Baltimore, is investing in leaders in the responsible fatherhood field with the 2nd Annual Practitioners Leadership Institute Summit in late March and Biko Baker, executive director of the League of Young Voters is serving as Chair of the City of Milwaukee’s Black Male Achievement Evaluation Committee for their public/private strategy to improve life outcomes of black males.

Of course, there are many more actions happening across the nation on the BMA front. And, The Institute for Black Male Achievement intends to keep serving as a catalytic engine helping to strengthen leaders and organizations who are already in action to support the president’s declaration to “help more young men of color facing especially tough odds stay on track and reach their full potential.”