MTC to host summit about Black Male Crisis in America | From the Lakewood Ranch Herald-Tribune

By Staff Report, Herald-Tribune
Manatee County’s public schools will host a summit, “The Black Male Crisis in America,” on Feb. 21.

The programs from noon to 4 p.m. at the Manatee Technical College, 6305 State Road 70 E., are to “explore the risk factors and disturbing trends that limit the achievement and success of African-American males, as well as to discuss strategies that we as a community can employ to counter those risk factors and trends.”

According to a media release:

While the School District has seen important improvements in recent years regarding graduation and dropout rates for African-American male students, that demographic group still trails other demographic groups in those areas and more. Nationally, data shows African-American males are not graduating from high school and are dropping out at greater rates than members of both sexes in other demographic groups.

The problems that persist go much deeper than success in school or standardized tests. Whether it’s living below the poverty rate, incarceration in prison, unemployment, or being victimized by violent crime, America’s African-American males are disproportionally impacted.

The Manatee County summit will feature nationally-renowned keynote speakers Dr. Stephen Peters and Dr. Joe Martin, who will touch on many of these critical issues. There will also be individual breakout sessions, where summit participants can choose to attend workshops on topics such as parenting, early childhood care and nutrition, the value of an education, sports as a pathway to college, financial planning and assistance, and other topics that will seek to provide a holistic approach in addressing the many risk factors that contribute to the crisis. Local organizations such as Manatee Children’s Services, Whole Child Project, Take Stock in Children, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Visible Men Academy, Children Therapy Solutions, the NAACP, and other partners will assist with the delivery of the workshops.

Participants will also be served by local culinary aficionados from C&K BBQ and have a chance to offer feedback to the School District and other involved organizations. Free transportation and child care will be provided at the summit for those families and individuals who need assistance in these areas.

Workshops include

Building Resilience in Communities (BRIC) Parenting – Todd Markel, Manatee County Children’s Services

Early Childhood Care & Nutrition – Kim Fischer, Manatee County Head Start

Sports Can Make a Difference – Willie & Jamara Clark, SDMC; Carlton Hadley, Sports for Life

The True Value of an Education – Captain Freddie McSears Jr.

Elevating Young African-American Men – Neil Phillips, Visible Men Academy

Mentoring – Diana Dill, Take Stock in Children

Academic Acceleration – Hatti Brown and Chris Robinson, SDMC

Safe Schools and Communities – LT John Murrell, MCSO & Skip Wilhoit, SDMC

Where Do I Go for Help? – Pat Bernhart, Phyllis Milton, & Rosemarie Reynolds-Wood, SDMC

Helping in Harmony – Shavonda Griffin

Sensory Integration & Behavior Difficulties – Children Therapy Solutions

Do Your Job! Men taking Responsibility as Fathers – Rodney Jones, SCF

Guy Code: Self Image and Positive Role Models – Marquel & Willie Simmons, Healthy Teens Coalition

Empowering African-American Males to Succeed – Dr. Stephen Peters*

Information Tables

Whole Child Project

Early Childhood education

NAACP

Free School Bus Transportation Pickup Points and Schedule

Bus #1		Bus #2		Bus #3
Location	Time	Location	Time	Location	Time
Ballard Elem	10:40	Wakeland Elem	11:10	Palmetto Elem	10:50
Rogers Garden	10:50	Johnson Middle	11:15	Palmetto High	10:55
Orange Ridge-Bullock	10:55	Daughtrey Elem	11:25	Lincoln Middle	11:00
13^th Av. Dream Center	11:10	Harllee Middle	11:25	Tillman Elem	11:10
Manatee Elem.	11:20	Oneco Elem	11:30	Blackburn Elem	11:20
Arrive at MTC	11:45	Arrive at MTC	11:45	Arrive at MTC	11:45