Welcome to the official site of the Think Tank for African American Progress - the Think Tank.

The Think Tank evolved from the Brothers of the Academy Institute (BOTA) which was formed in 1999 under the leadership of Dr. Lee Jones as a support function for Black men in early career stages in higher education. Initially BOTA served as respite, publication outlet, space for scholarly collaborations, and access to senior scholar mentors for over 40 young scholars from universities and colleges from across the country. BOTAs members produced several co-authored publications, grant submissions, books projects, and research projects. The intellectual space and network provided needed relationships and opportunities to support several of our members through the tenure and promotion process. In addition, the mission of BOTA included recruiting and mentoring Black male graduate students to increase the flow of Black males earning terminal or professional degrees. To this end several of our early protégés hold positions as faculty, administration, and professional careers.

The brand of BOTA has served as an impetus for lecture series and conferences at such prestigious institutions as Morehouse College, Vanderbilt University, and Auburn University and presentations at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Today BOTA fulfills its purpose as an important virtual network for African American men in multiple disciplines at various stages of academic careers and pursuits.

As a result of our fluid leadership structure BOTA has evolved and birthed several important organizations of which continue to promote the purpose of BOTA. In 2003 Sisters of the Academy (SOTA) was formed as a partner organization with the expressed purpose of creating a venue for Black women in the academy to support each other through their unique challenges and accomplishments. SOTA conducts an annual "Data Bootcamp" to provide mentorship, consultation, and support for women of color who are at the dissertation writing stage or early career in a tenure track position. See SOTAs website for more information. The Center for the African American Research and Policy (CARRP) has also emerged from BOTA roots. CAARP has an expanding reputation as a premier repository for translational research useful for African American communities. CAARPs projects have focused on the dissemination of research that can be used to influence policy and practice of organizations. See CARRPs website for more information. BOTA, SOTA, CARRP, and the Think Tank are collaborators in the efforts of engaging Black scholars in the work of Black communities.

In addition to SOTA, the Think Tank has partnered with the New Connections Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Emerging Scholars Interdisciplinary Network, and the Emerging Leaders Program of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. We are open to collaborations with individuals and organizations that share our vision of coalition building to promote solutions to challenges in communities, increasing the number of the scholar-activist, and supporting the advancement of libratory scholarship.

It is our intention to serve as connectors of the various sources of knowledge that are necessary for communities to reach their full potential as "whole villages" that raise healthy children for the future.