2011 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

The Columbia Division is pleased to honor Dr. Robert Kirton for his work as the co-founder of Black Achievers Determined to be Different (BADD), an interactive program for black males in kindergarten through 12th grade. The program incorporates a brotherhood concept to motivate, inspire, and challenge black males to become self-confident young men.

BADD was developed in response to academic reports that showed black males were lagging behind their counterparts in schools, were more likely to be suspended or expelled, and had higher enrollment in special education classes.

The program’s success prompted the South Carolina Department of Education to commission Dr. Kirton to replicate the BADD program throughout the state.

In February 2011, he worked with the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs to host the Ninth African-American Male National Council and South Carolina Black Male Summit, which is a conference held to address social issues that affect black males.