The Over The Hill Gang is a group of business and professional people with over 1400 years of experience who are extremely disenchanted with the continued social and financial exclusion of people of color in the Grand Rapids landscape. We believe that African-Americans must be accorded the same opportunities for good jobs and economic development as has been provided to the prevailing majority group. We must stop depending on others and begin providing for ourselves as other cultures do.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
We believe that African-Americans must develop try to develop economic enterprises that will benefit their community, and the Greater Grand Rapids Metropolitan. We will not truly be free until we can provide for ourselves that which we now depend on others to provide.
OUR COMMUNITY
We plan to help organize and provide leadership to the community, the churches, businesspersons, educators, political leaders, students and grass-root people to return our community to a progressive, law-abiding part of the Grand Rapids community. Our youth must be taught self reliance, self actualization. They must be convinced they are special and have a special mission, building a future for their children’s children.
MENTORING
We must teach our young people how to establish personal and family goals and values. They must establish respect for themselves and others. They must be convinced they can achieve what they will and take their place with the best in society. We must show them a vision that gives them a sense of being a viable part of this community.
EDUCATION
We firmly believe that our children must be provided a world-class education that will prepare them to live, and compete, in a global environment. Therefore, we call upon this community, and its governmental agencies, to provide this service, as dictated by the Michigan Constitution.