The Mayor of Boston has paid tribute to a Bermudian motivational speaker for his decades of “tireless” work with black youths.

Martin Walsh declared March 24 as Dennis Rahiim Watson Day and presented Mr Watson with a proclamation at the Boston City Hall in the United States.

This honoured Mr Watson for his work as the president and CEO of the Center for Black Student Achievement and the chairman of the Black Men Against Gun Violence Taskforce.

“On behalf of the City of Boston, I thank Mr Watson for his three decades of tireless leadership challenging black youths to become strong leaders, problem solvers and innovators in a globally competitive world,” Mr Walsh said.

Delivering the key note speech at the 42nd annual National Society of Black Engineers conference on March 24, Mr Watson said he had been challenging “black males to end their petty beefs and to see the danger and consequences of poor choices” for more than three decades.

“My mission is to teach this generation of knuckleheads about how to make the most of their time on this Earth,” he said.

“I am blessed to have created a legacy of excellence and success for Bermudian youth to follow.”

He told The Royal Gazette that his message to Bermuda was to “stop the violence” and to stay away from drugs and bad behaviour that would place the youth on the stop list and keep them “locked on the island”.

At the conference, Mr Watson passed on advice and general principals of success, which he said had been taught by mothers around the world for generations.

Mr Watson said he grew up in poverty but decided to make something of himself and stressed that the life lessons he learnt in Bermuda formed the foundations of his success.

In his speech, he also paid tribute to the Bermudian men and women who shaped the man he was today and paved the way for his success.

“My life story is a message to Bermudian youth to become achievers,” Mr Watson said. “Bermudians are the most blessed people on earth and we don’t take advantage of opportunities.

“I am forever thankful to the wisdom, guidance, kindness and support of awesome and phenomenal Bermudian male and female role models who encouraged me to make something out of my life.”

For more information, contact Mr Watson on 347-849-6259 or e-mail saving.ouryouth@yahoo.com