In the fall of 1992, following Sunday's service at Friendship Baptist Church, Schenectady, New York, Richard Harris was approached by two other men of the church, and was asked if he would help form a Chapter of the One Hundred Black Men in the capital district area.

Brother Harris agreed and following several meetings at his home together they devised a plan to build a viable organization. In March of 1993 a small "Steering Committee" was formed to recruit members. Later in April, Brother Harris was chosen to serve as Interim President, and on July 14, 1993, he was elected as President. Since being founded, the One Hundred Black Men (OHBM) of Albany, New York has accomplished many things. This includes establishing the 100NET program in 1996 in community centers, churches, and schools in the cities of Albany, Schenectady & Troy. The resulting program provided computer training to several hundred inner-city children and adult students. In 1997, the city of Albany, New York provided the organization with a 10,000 square foot building to house its 100NET technology and training program. With the help of several community development block grants, a large grant from Home Depot, and donations from several other major corporations; the building was completely renovated and made state-of-art and wired for the 21st century by Lucent Technologies. These are just a few of the Albany chapter of OHBM’s accomplishments. To view our complete history and achievements, click here. 

One Hundred Black Men of the Albany, New York Capital Region is organized to use our expertise to empower the African American community to create meaningful positive change in living conditions. Our focus includes, but is not limited to housing, employment, public safety, education, and health. We embrace Frederick Douglass' statement that "Power concedes nothing without a demand." To that end, we will hold accountable leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Those leaders will be invited to appear periodically before this body to explain how their actions improve the lives of this area's African American, and other, minority citizens.

Through forums, panel presentations, and open discussion, we will be a bridge between the area's decision-makers and the African American and minority communities. Constructive dialogue will be maintained as a path toward action and significant social change.

The strength of the One Hundred Black Men is in its membership, selected for exhibiting qualities of character and commitment to the community. These outstanding men represent some of the very best and brightest in the Capital District community. One Hundred Black Men of the Albany, New York Capital Region, Inc. is open to black men 21 years of age and older through sponsorship by a member in good standing and upon approval of the Board of Directors.

The leadership includes a President, three Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, two Parliamentarians, and nine Directors. An Executive Committee consists of all elected officers together with chairmen of standing committees. The organization holds two meetings monthly: one of the Officers and Board, and another of the membership. The membership does not meet in July and August. Download the OHBM membership nomination form here. 

One Hundred Black Men provides various services to members ranging from business development and investment referrals to opportunities for volunteering and community engagement. A partial list of member services is included below:

Volunteering and Community Leadership

Through its various programs and initiatives, members may participate in planning, management, and assessment of programs that directly serve the community. These programs are focused in the areas of education, mentoring, economic development, and health and wellness.

Board Placement and Committee Appointments

Companies, non-profit organizations, and government agencies seeking qualified individuals to serve on board of directors and committees may request introductions to interested members. This service is provided to members and partnering organizations.

Talent Development

Members seeking personal career advancement or to recruit high-performance candidates for employment are able to leverage the network for referrals.

Business Development

Our members lead, own, or are employed by over a hundred companies across twelve different industries. By sharing insights on market drivers and collaborating on business opportunities, members are able to support the development of their respective companies and organizations.

Yes, donations are always welcome and appreciated.  Please click on the donate button on our site menu to make a donation. These donations will be used to expand and enrich the program.  We thank you for your generosity and help in making a difference in our community.

The One Hundred Black Men work as a collaborative partner with business, government, and community organizations to improve the quality of life for African Americans and other minorities. We are truly grateful for the support we receive from our partners, supporters, and friends that helps to ensure the success of our programs.

One Hundred Black Men partners with two different types of community organizations: Direct Service; and Cultural Arts and Historical Organizations:

Direct-Service NGOs

OHBM partners with non-profit and non-governmental organizations that provide direct services to low-income men, women, and children. These partners include middle schools and high schools, colleges and universities, youth-service organizations, churches, and homeless shelters that collaborate with us to offer programs to improve the lives of participants. There are many great organizations in our community that can have a broader impact when provided with additional programmatic capacity offered by One Hundred Black Men.

Cultural Arts and Historical Organizations

One Hundred Black Men partners with organizations that offer historical and cultural arts programs that reflect the interests of the communities we serve. From world-class arts institutions to grassroots community organizations, we support audience development, volunteer efforts, and program marketing.

501 C-(3) is a portion of the US Internal Revenue Code that allows for federal tax exemption of nonprofit organizations. As a 501C nonprofit, we have been approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt and charitable organization. As a nonprofit organization, One Hundred Black Men of the Albany, New York Capital Region, Inc. is dedicated to giving ourselves in a manner that improves the quality of life for African American people and other minority citizens of New York's capital area. This includes serving as a respectable mentoring organization. Unlike some other nonprofit organizations, we are trustworthy, accountable, and honest. We understand that we are accountable to our donors, volunteers, and community. If you have any questions about our role as a nonprofit in the community, please feel free to contact us.