Every MAN needs MEN-toring! Retooling black men through collective work and responsibility (ujima)

NOTE TIME CHANGE SESSION 6 2:30 - 3:20 Student Union 312

There is much debate about what seems to be the issue plaguing the black community. Some of those arguments include crime, poverty/unemployment, declines in education, the decimation of the family, etc. Statistics can be found to support and deny any one of these issues as the main issue facing our community. The family structures of the African-American family have long since been on the decline and in many cases and areas of America are almost non-existent. This, I believe, is the issue! Former President Reagan, in an interview with Dr. James Dobson, reported in Focus on the Family magazine, said, "I don't believe you can have a strong, healthy nation without the family unit as its very base. As the family goes, so goes the nation." I’d like to take that statement a bit further; As the Man goes, so goes the family, and so goes the nation! The promotion of positive black male mentors is in need of immediate resuscitation. If we want our young black men to succeed in life, then we need to willingly give ourselves to the cause as mentors who offer ourselves, advice, experience, wisdom, strength and manpower; empowering and positioning the next generation. This workshop will prove the power of positive male mentors, their impact on their mentees’ identity and masculinity and how mentors directly affect retention, graduation and student success. Mentoring answers the need, and it is the call!