On January 31, 2011, Paul Hill, Jr. stepped aside after 30 years as the CEO of East End Neighborhood House. East End Neighborhood House is one of the oldest (104 years) neighborhood based non-profit organizations in Cleveland, Ohio and nationally known for its best practices in providing youth and family services. Other employment experiences have been with the Federal Government (U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare) and teaching within various public school systems and institutions of higher education. Other experiences and projects are related to being a W. K. Kellogg Foundation Leadership Fellow (1989-92, Group X). His learning project and field research was studying male socialization in indigenous cultures around the world. Upon completion of the fellowship, the Foundation supported his field of study and research through its African American Boys and Men Initiative (1993-1996). In 1992 he wrote a book, Coming of Age, African America Images, Chicago. The book was based on his field of study and applications. Since 1992 he has published several articles in peer-review journals on rites of passage as a process for human development. Presently, he is working on a revision of his first book, Coming of Age. He recently wrote Rites of Passage: Birth, Initiation, Marriage, Death a Chapter in African Presence in Black America. Paul's interest as a student and practitioner in rite of passage for youth development and community building began in the late 70's. In 1993 he established the National Rites of Passage Institute. The purpose of the Institute is to create a critical mass and community of adults to develop children and youth and regenerate community through rites of passage. He has always operated from the premise that there is not a youth problem in America; there is an adult problem. Youth do not develop in a vacuum. Since 1993, the Institute has provided training to 1000 plus men and women from 20 cities, the District of Columbia and Toronto, Canada; they have been actively involved in guiding and supporting a minimum of 10,000 children and youth in neighborhood and community based programs. About TEDx, x=independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x=independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

2. What is ritual?

3. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE RITUAL OF RITES OF PASSAGE AND
THE COMMUNITY ?

4. We cannot escape our origins,
however hard we might try,
those origins contain the key
----could we but find it----
to all that we later become.
--James Baldwin
Notes of a Native Son

10. What happens when you do not have
myths and rites of passage?