A Tradition Rooted in Health, Mentorship, and Community
The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc.’s Walk A Mile With A Child initiative was the brainchild of Chief Magistrate Gregory Clifford, created during the height of the pandemic as a safe, meaningful way to keep youth connected, active, and supported. What began as a simple one-mile walk quickly grew into something much deeper—an opportunity for mentees and mentors to bond, learn, and grow together in nature.
Each walk invites young men to step away from screens, stress, and daily challenges and into the fresh air of Cleveland’s parks and Metroparks trails. As they walk side-by-side with mentors, they engage in conversations about life, school, character, decisions, and dreams. These aren’t lectures—they’re organic moments of connection where young men feel heard, valued, and encouraged. Along the trail, mentees learn to observe nature, practice mindfulness, and understand health as a lifelong priority.
The program also reinforces one of the 100’s core pillars: Health & Wellness. Walking is simple but powerful—it nurtures physical fitness, reduces stress, and builds mental clarity. For many of our youth, who often face challenges such as poverty, trauma, and community violence, the walk becomes a safe space to release tension and build confidence.
But Walk A Mile With A Child is more than exercise.
It is mentorship in motion.
Mentors use the mile to share life experiences, teach self-respect, instill discipline, and model what positive manhood looks like. Mentees, in turn, ask questions, seek guidance, and discover new ways of thinking. By the time the mile is complete, something lasting has been planted—a lesson, a connection, a moment of belief.
Over time, this simple program has strengthened camaraderie, increased trust, and created memorable experiences for our youth. Whether discussing goal setting, leadership, nature, or overcoming obstacles, each walk becomes its own classroom, proving that mentorship doesn’t always require a desk—it just requires presence.
Walk A Mile With A Child continues to be a shining example of how small actions can create big impact. Step by step, mile by mile, we are reminding our young men that they matter, that they are supported, and that their journey—just like the trail ahead—is full of possibility.