Central Los Angeles : BOYS GET THEIR TURN

First A.M.E. Church in the West Adams district and a newly formed group of African American professionals Tuesday announced plans for a citywide “Take Your Son to Work Day” on Dec. 1. Organizers described the event as an outgrowth of last week’s “Million Man March” in Washington.

Sponsors are asking black men throughout Los Angeles to take their sons to work as a way of getting more involved in the lives of young people.

“On Dec. 1, take your man-child to work with you,” said the Rev. Leonard Jackson of First A.M.E. “Sit him down and discuss his homework with him, open a checking account for him, teach him how to analyze problems. Take charge of your household.”

Organizers say they would like to see men without sons volunteer to take a fatherless boy to work.

“We’ve extended this to African American males,” Jackson said, “and to all males across the city--Mexican Americans, Korean Americans--all males to take a child of their household to work.”

Co-sponsoring the event is a new group called the New Leaders, whose members say they will organize black professionals to address social, economic and political issues.

Jackson said the “Take Your Son to Work Day” will be one of a number of activities that will grow out of the “Million Man March,” including more family awareness programs and a voter registration drive.