Summit on Black Male Youth Set for March 18 and 19

Succeeding in college and looking at life beyond high school are two of the multiple sessions at the sixth annual Summit on Black Male Youth set for Monday, March 18, and Tuesday, March 19, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

This year’s theme, “Black Boys Thriving: Reimagining the Narrative,” is designed to expose young men to options and opportunities in their futures, according to Gary Williams, one of the organizers. He is an associate professor of educational policy and community studies and director of the Institute for Intercultural Research.

The UWM African American Male Initiative, which organizes the summit, brings in presenters from the community and the university – including some recent graduates – to engage, inform and embolden young men from public and private schools in southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, according to Williams.

Among this year’s presentations are sessions on Black Men in Science and Medicine;  Setting Goals for the Future; ABCs of College Admission (Day 1 only); Life After High School – Post High-School Reality; Money Matters; and Living in Color.

The Monday sessions will focus on young men in high school; the Tuesday sessions will focus on middle school students. More than 1,000 young men are expected to attend interactive sessions on the UWM campus each day.

Included among this year’s sponsors are Bader Philanthropies, the City of Milwaukee Black Male Achievement Council, Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Milwaukee County Office of African American Affairs, the University of Wisconsin Credit Union, Social Development Commission, Wells Fargo and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

For more information, contact Gary Williams, glw@uwm.edu, or James Hill, jimhill@uwm.edu, 414-229-2261.