Kareem Moody, director of The Network for Student Success at Pulaski Technical College, heads the federally funded program designed to improve lives and encourage black males to complete college. These efforts are implemented through case management, success coaching, and academic, curriculum and life planning.

Moody says that while the program helps young people with interviewing, educational and networking skills, the roots of one's success still come from the home.

The father of two young boys and the author of "Raise Them Up: The Real Deal On Reaching Unreachable Kids," Moody offers these eight tips on parenting:

1.    Talk and keep communication lines open.
2.    Hit stuff head on and take risks.
3.    Put your “big boy drawers on” and teach.
4.    Allow kids the opportunity to form their own opinions.
5.    Be compassionate and connect with something outside of you.
6.    Convey the idea you can choose actions, but can’t choose consequences.
7.    You can’t shield kids from the pebbles that are thrown at them in life, but can help with the boulders.
8.    Don’t do it all for them.

Read more about Moody in the latest issue of Little Rock Family by clicking here.