Reflections on Mentoring Public Health Scientists Bill Jenkins, MS, PhD, MPH Institute for African American Research University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

History Three Approaches to solving disparities WEB Dubois: Fighting Racism BT Washington : Education, Training Marcus Garvey: Community Organizing

Problem African American students are interested in the sciences in greater proportion than European students until the seventh grade Forty percent of African American students enter college interested in the sciences until the end of their second year Why the drop-off ….how do we reduce it?

PROGRAMS Project Imhotep: Public Health Sciences Public Health Sciences Interns: Public Health Sciences Public Health Sciences Minor: Association of AA Public Health Programs: MPH Dregree Social Health Society: Organizing PH professionals Society for Analysis of AA Pubic Health Issues: Researching HD Young Black Professionals Network: Informing young professional Mentees of Mentees: Now the students have students

What Have We Learned Experience – More than Exposure Skills- More than Self Esteem Mentors- More than Role Models Profession- More than job

Who can make a difference? The one percent solution: Developing and Organizing the talented and the dedicated But, we can not be racist in working towards a solution