Hundreds of Students Gather for Young Men of Color Summit

By The Final Call | Last updated: Mar 26, 2019 - 12:40:11 PM

Chicago Public School students and mentors at conference. Photo: CPS

CHICAGO—The Young Men of Color Summit, a two day conference designed to target the needs of at-risk Black and Hispanic male high school students enrolled in Chicago Public Schools, brought young men from across the city to Chicago State University and Northeastern Illinois University.

Since these young men are largely underrepresented in higher education, the summit was hosted on college campuses to help introduce and connect the 9th-12th graders with Black and Latino male role models who are current college students, college graduates as well as career professionals.

The summit theme was “Paving Your Path.” During the course of the day, participants attended workshops designed to equip them with the tools and resources to empower them to be successful in school, careers and in their communities. Workshops were offered on five tracks: Retention, graduation and student success; Masculinity, identity, and the media; Career and professional development; Financial literacy; and Community/social engagement.

For the sixth consecutive year, impactful college students from several institutions participated in the summit, including the Hope Dealers, a special group of students from Morehouse College who spend their spring break in Chicago to serve and mentor young people.

Young men who participated were encouraged to become involved in mentoring programs, like the Kenwood Brotherhood which serves as a model program.

The primary goal of the Summit is to inspire the high school students with a renewed sense of hope and confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles and succeed academically, socially and professionally.

The 6th Annual Young Men of Color Summit took place March 14 at Chicago State University and March 15 at Northeastern Illinois University.

(top) The sixth Annual Young Men of Color Summit took place March 14 at Chicago State University. (l) Students shake hands (r) Richard B. Muhammad

Nearly 700 African American and Latino male high school students gathered at Chicago State University for the Young Men of Color Summit.

The day kicked off with a series of informative breakout sessions. Students were first given the option to choose three workshops with topics ranging from applying to scholarships to defining character and leadership skills.

Demetrius Ready, Jr., a senior at Al Raby High School, said this was his first year attending the annual conference.

He said he participated in “Teach Chicago,” a workshop that reviewed the pathways, resources and benefits of becoming a teacher.

Ready said the workshop “opened his eyes” to how important events like the Young Men of Color Summit are.

“Events like these are important for men of color because it’s all about family,” said Ready. “Once we become a family, we can see the world differently.”

He said he also appreciated that the space allowed for him and others to openly discuss the low expectations men of color sometimes set for themselves.

“As men of color, the expectations are low,” Ready said. “We sometimes do things just to get by. I’m most excited to attend the session that discusses low expectations in our community.”

Another workshop, “The Medicine: How to Use Sacrifice & Commitment to Cure the Disease of Low Expectation,” was moderated by former Atlanta Falcons football player, Nosa Eguae.

Eguae said the theme, to diagnose, treat, and transform low expectations amongst young men of color, is his mission and purpose in life.

“There are a lot of people who see their world and their circumstances, and they limit their future accomplishments,” said Eguae. “The purpose of my life is to first be an example to these young men, and then to ensure students understand the fact that if they can aim for it, they can achieve it.”

Down the hall, other students attended “What is Black Manhood & Does it Matter?” The workshop featured an open dialogue that asked students how men of color are perceived in media and the entertainment industry.

Adrian Manuel, a junior at the Greater Lawndale School for Social Justice, recently founded the school’s first Black Student Union.

After attending the workshop, he said he’s hoping to bring some of the lessons he learned back to his meetings.

“We discussed why we need to fight against stereotypes to get what we want and deserve,” said Manuel. “I want to empower Black men within my community and at my school to make a change and make something better of themselves.”

Richard B. Muhammad, The Final Call newspaper editor-in-chief, conducted the Black manhood and media workshop. “It was humbling and inspiring to dialogue with these young brothers and talk about how images matter, can drive public policy and contribute to lack of opportunity. If you don’t like me, that’s ok. But when your dislike is combined with the power to deny me and images in media, which are rooted in historical stereotypes, justify locking me out, that is a major problem,” said Muhammad. “The young men were very energized at different points, but we must engage them and show our love and commitment to them. ‘Don’t waste your time,’ and ‘don’t allow anyone to waste your time,’ was a message I gave to them. Get something out of today, and challenge people who say they want to help you to help,” he added. Muhammad also gave several students a free copy of his new book, “Farrakhan Fanatics Or Saviours? The True Story of the D.C. Crack Cocaine Crisis and Successful Muslim Anti-Drug Patrols.”

As the breakout sessions began to wrap up, students like Ready began to express how “happy” they were that they’d taken the step to attend the summit.

“I don’t really like field trips,” said Ready, “but I support this program all the way.”

He added that having a safe space to talk made him grateful for the experience.

“This is a great place to come to talk because people are open and they’ve been down your path before,” he said. “I know how it feels to not have that guidance in your life and to struggle. Everyone needs someone.”

Manuel said he hopes other students will take advantage of the summit for years to come.

“This is a very good opportunity for all of the African American and Latino males who chose to attend this year,” said Manuel. “I encourage people to come out here and take advantage of these opportunities.”

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