Our History

The Blue Nile Passage, Inc. is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization dedicated to the spiritual, cultural and moral character development of America's youth. It was founded in 1994 at New York ’s world-renowned Abyssinian Baptist Church under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III.

In 1992, a strong, determined and longtime member of The Ministry of Christian Social Concerns of The Abyssinian, Baptist Church, Mildred Franklin, challenged its members to start a program that would address the needs faced by today’s youth, especially young men. One year later, in the fall of 1993, nine individuals from two of Abyssinian's active ministries, The Ministry of Christian Social Concerns and The Brotherhood, met weekly for four months to make that vision a reality. The program was created out of an incredible measure of ancestral inspiration, coupled with a vision of proud, culturally enlightened and spiritually grounded people of African descent. Their original focus was to structure a rites-of-passage program that would address the needs and concerns of African American males between the ages of 12 and 16 from the church and who lived on the church block. However, Dr. Butts challenged them to create a program that would become a paradigm for the nation which raised the bar to standards that still remain.

Encompassing areas of knowledge needed to sustain and support a positive and productive life seven topic areas were created and built into the program's curriculum: Personal Growth & Development, Health & Wellness, Spiritual Grounding, Community Consciousness, Historical Black Experience, Economic Awareness and Politics.

By February 1994, with the instruction component set and the rites-of-passage cultural component planned, the groundbreaking youth program that was Abyssinian's dream was born. With the name bestowed by the world renowned Egyptologist, Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannon, affectionately known as Dr. Ben, The Blue Nile Passage began its pilot program with 16 young men. In June of the same year, Blue Nile’s first “Passing Through” Ceremony was held in the vestry of Abyssinian where the 9 young men who successfully completed the requirements of the program were honored and heralded before members of their families, the church and the extended community. In October of 1994, the first full, nine-month program began with approximately 30 young men.

In January 1995, a call went out to Abyssinian's members inquiring about the possible interest in starting a rites-of-passage program for young women. Impressively, 80 interested women answered the call. In March 1995, the pilot program for young women named The Daughters of the Blue Nile began. The male entity now became known as the Sons of the Blue Nile and both entities were linked under the umbrella of The Blue Nile Passage Program.

The pilot program for the Daughters of the Blue Nile started with 20 young women, between the ages of 11 to 14. In June 18 young women were honored at their own “Passing Through” Ceremony at Abyssinian.

In August 1996, the Program received its incorporation papers from the State of New York and became The Blue Nile Passage, Inc., a not-for-profit organization. In September, the program moved to its present location, Thurgood Marshall Academy, a junior high to high school located a few blocks away from the church in Harlem.

In the fall of 1996 another component called Media Literacy was added and offered to youth who successfully “passed through” the rites-of-passage component. In this component, youth are taught how to write, produce, edit and direct their own video shows which are then shown on public access cable in Manhattan. The objective of the program is to instill an appreciation and understanding of the mass-media industry, to understand and appreciate the power and influence of the media while gaining hands-on industry experience. We plan to expand this training into all forms of mass media including print, photography, radio including media through the use of the internet.

One of the strengths of the program is its Mentoring Component. Mentoring has become one of the strongest and most important elements of the program to date. Mentors are expected to be a guide and friend to their mentee FOR LIFE, not just for the nine-month program. Mentors must undergo a screening process, take a 4-hour training session, attend monthly meetings and keep a journal of their interactions with the youth which are shared with and monitored by the Mentor Coordinators.

Parent training is also offered so that they can also be enlightened in the lessons/training that is being bestowed upon their child(ren). Parent training sessions are held once a month.

Our Vision

The future of the Blue Nile Passage, Inc. will encompass the development of an after school/weekend institution where the mission of character development continues. These young people ages 6-18, will be exposed to the same principles as in the rites-of-passage component but will be taught in stages that are in line with the age of the participants. For example, we will introduce economics and time management to a six year old and still offer training in these topics to an eighteen year old but on a much broader and comprehensive basis. Time will also be devoted to standard academic support including tutorial services. Youth will be expected to use their knowledge to challenge the world in their own way, to help make it a healthier, cleaner and safer place in which to live, to give back to the organization and to never forget that they stand on the shoulders of those who have come before them and, therefore, they have a generational responsibility to teach, train and develop the next generation.

On Saturdays, the rites-of-passage sessions for 12-15 year olds will continue; however, most of these youth will have been nurtured through the after school component since age six. Earlier preparation will aid in making successful rites-of-passage completion a reality, as the youth will be more mature, aware, disciplined and generally better equipped to receive and process the information presented.

We envision a day when the entire operation of the Blue Nile organization will be led and managed by men and women who are known as Sons and Daughters of the Blue Nile; thus embracing the Elder Simmons’ philosophy, “A circle becomes complete when those to whom much have been given, come back to give.”

We envision our Media Literacy Program becoming one of the most important and largest components of the organization. This component will provide exposure and real-life media training that will lead to scholarships, industry internships and media-related employment opportunities for youth who show a keen interest in the industry. Varying aspects of media will be taught including photography, videography, radio broadcasting and print media. Our goal is to develop young people who have the desire, determination and talent to launch their own media companies, produce their own music, tell their own stories and make their own films that won’t degrade nor disgrace people of African descent and their ancestry.

We plan to establish chapters of The Blue Nile Passage, Inc. within the New York tri-state area and eventually throughout the United States. Because our initial focus and expertise will be on the rites-of-passage component, we will dedicate our energies into duplicating this component first. After that, we will seek to introduce and implement the other components as each chapter achieves rites-of-passage success.