About US

 

Black Men With a Purpose was officially established in 2014 by a group of individuals who attended one of the historically black high schools in Charlotte; Second Ward, West Charlotte, and York Road. They were inspired by a number of mentors at each of the High Schools who were instrumental in motivating students to attend colleges and universities. In an interest of carrying on the traditions of these mentors, BMP was organized. BMP received its articles of incorporation and tax exempt status on August 15, 2015.

Our Members
Work History:
Charlotte Mecklenburg School System
35 years employed (teacher/coach) 
currently retired
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Education: 
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools 
Undergraduate degree BS Winston Salem University
Graduate degree MA A&T Sate University
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Personal Interests:
Gardening, Crafts, Motorcycling, coaching
and watching sports and traveling
John Cunningham
BMP President
Work History:
Retired Charlotte Firefighter, 37 years of service
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Education: 
Second Ward HS, Harding HS
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Personal Interests:
Sports
Levi Steele
BMP Second Vice President
Work History:
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Retired
 
Education: 
BA Political Science, Winston-Salem State University
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Personal Interests:
Life itself
Donald R. Cureton, Sr. 
BMP Treasurer
Robert Weeks Sr.
BMP Trustee
Work History:
U.S. Army (Retired)
Middle School Teacher (Retired)
Director, Mecklenburg County Veterans Services (Retired)
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Education: 
Olympic HS
BS Winston-Salem State University
Masters of Public Administration, University of Missouri, Kansas City
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Personal Interests:
Caring for grandkids, serving on various university and community committees and non-profits 
Work History:
-Duke Energy - 21 yrs
-Citywide Mortgage Residential Loan 
Officer - 10yrs
 
Education: 
-Graduate from Harding HIgh School
-2 years of Vocational College of HVAC
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Personal Interests:
-Mt. Olive Presbyterian Elder, 
-Vice President of Men's Organization
-Usher, Sunday School Teacher
-U.S. National Guard
-Personnel and Finance Specialist (SP5)
-Avid Golfer
Jerry Grier
Work History:
Account/Insurance Broker
 
Education: 
BA Accounting, Belmont Abby College
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Personal Interests:
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Johnny Ingram
Work History:
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Education: 
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Personal Interests:
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Theodore Pearson
Work History:
BASF Chemical Plant (Retired)
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Education: 
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Personal Interests:
Firm believer in Jesus Christ Our Savior.  
"I walk by faith not by sight".
Trent Neal
Work History:
Sub District Director - USW
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Education: 
York Road HS
Second Ward HS
Olympic HS
South Mecklenburg HS
Winston-Salem State University
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Personal Interests:
Basketball & Football
Larry Murray
BMP First Vice President
Work History:
Director of Purchasing, CPM - 35 years - retired
 
Education: 
South Mecklenburg HS
Winston-Salem State University
Virginia Tech
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Personal Interests:
Golfing
James Brailey 
BMP Secretary
Dewitt Mobley 
BMP Chaplain
Work History:
US Navy Retired
Veterans Counselor, Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABBCM) Asheville, NC
Certified Teacher, Mecklenburg County Schools and Victory Christian School
 
Education: 
Masters of Theological Studies, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC
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Personal Interests:
Musician and golfing
Work History:
Federal Reserve Bank, Retired
 
Education: 
Harding HS
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Personal Interests:
Football
Elmore Hannah
Work History:
Teacher, Piedmont Middle School, 1976-2008
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Education: 
BS, Health & Physical Education
Winston-Salem State University
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Personal Interests:
Coaching, athletics
Fred Stafford
Work History:
Owner, Ham's Custom Masonry, Retired
 
Education: 
Central Piedmont Community College
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Personal Interests:
Visual Arts
Keith Ham
Work History:
Underwriter State Farm
 
Education: 
BA Macalester College
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Personal Interests:
Caring and Sharing
Calvin Simmons
Work History:
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Education: 
Second Ward High School
West Charlotte High School
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Personal Interests:
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Kenny Washington
Work History:
Charlotte Fire Department - 43.5 yrs
-Served in the capacity of Fire Captain - 14 yrs
-Served in the capacity of Battalion Chief - 6 yrs
-Served in the capacity of Dep Fire Chief - 15 yrs
-Served in the capacity of Fire Chief - 1 yr
-Current Employment Status - Retired Fire Chief
 
Education: 
-Graduate of Charlotte Mecklenburg School System
-Graduate of the University of NC
@ Charlotte, BS-Fire Engineering
-Graduate of the National Fire Academy
@ Emmitsburg, Md
-Graduate of the University of NC @ Chapel Hill 
School of Government
-Graduate of the University of NC @ Chapel Hill
Public Executive and Leadership Academy
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Personal Interests:
Golf, Gardening, Reading, Spending quality time with and enjoying my family
Howard Key, Sr. (Pete)
Work History:
- Worked for First Union - 8 yrs
- Retired from Postal Service
Education: 
-Graduated from WSSU in 1974 BA in Business Administration (Cum Laude)
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Personal Interests:
Sports and Billards
Charles Dewalt
Work History:
- Retired Steel Fabricator
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Education: 
-Graduated from Myers Park High School
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Personal Interest:
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Joshua Hendricks
Work History:
-Present Pastor of the Nazareth Baptist Church Rock Hill, SC where he has served 22 years
-Served as Associate Pastor of the New St. John Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC-6 yrs
-Former Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, McConnells, SC
-Instructor for the Congress of Christian Education, for the State of SC
-Professor of Religion and Psychology at Clinton College, Rock Hill, SC
-Former Dean of the Sandy River Baptist Association (Upper Division) and the immediate pass Moderator.
-Former Region Five Vice President of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention SC.
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Education: 
-Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System
-Winston Salem State University
-J.W. Teamer School of Religion
-Metrolina Seminary Extension
-Shaw University School of Divinity
-Liberty University
-Jacksonville Theological Seminary
-Graduate of Institute of Biblical Studies,
Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 
(Summa cum Laude)
- Holds Bachelor of Theology Degree, Bachelor 
Divinity Degree, Masters of Arts in
Religious Theology, and the Doctor of
Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Christian 
Psychology.
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Personal Interests:
Proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity Inc.
He is proud of being a Child of the
Most Highest God.
Motto is "The Noblest Thing That a
Man Can Do is His Best"
Dr. John McCoy 
Work History:
- Retired UTC Aerospace Systems
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Education: 
-J.B. Dudley High School
-C.P.C.C.
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Personal Interest:
Basketball, Cycling, Bowling, Photography
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B. Bernard Ross
BMP Photographer