RELEASE DATE:  April 8, 2007

CONTACT:  Audrey Bailey  (919) 807-6963  office  (919) 247-7149  cell

                      baileya@nccommunitycolleges.edu



COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONFERENCE FOCUSING ON MINORITY MALES BEGINS WEDNESDAY

RALEIGH - The percentage of minority men enrolled in higher education is lower than the percentage of minority women enrolled. The percentage of minority men incarcerated is higher than the percentage they represent in the general population. A conference focusing on the education, incarceration, and fatherhood issues of minority men will be held on Wednesday, April 11 through Friday, April 13 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Research Triangle Park.

The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), in partnership with the North Carolina Fatherhood Development Advisory Council, hosts a conference focusing on minority men and ways they can improve their lives and their communities. More than 600 presenters and participants are expected to attend the conference. In addition to representatives from the sponsoring organizations, representatives from several Historically Black Colleges and Universities, public and private universities, state and county agencies, 100 Black Men of America, and social and religious agencies will participate.

“This conference offers participants valuable life-changing experiences that they can use and, equally important, share with others,” said NCCCS President, H. Martin Lancaster. “The goal of this conference is to have each person attending leave feeling empowered to help make his or her community better.”

The statewide collaboration conference theme, “Minority Male Mentoring: Men are Nurturer’s, Too!” reflects the topics that will be covered in the many concurrent sessions. Some of the session topics include the following:

• Equipping Minority Males with a Vision (Thursday, 9:30 a.m.)
• Are You Prepared for the 21st Century Employer? (Thursday, 9:30 a.m.)
• Reaching Latino Fathers and Serving Their Needs (Thursday, 9:30 a.m.
• Developing Learning Outcomes for Minority Male Students (Thursday, 11:00 a.m.)
• Understanding Employment Barriers for Ex-Offenders (Thursday, 11:00 a.m.)
• Motivating Young Boys for Leadership (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.)
• Preparing and Paying for College (Thursday, 3:45 p.m.)
• Economic Impact of Minorities in North Carolina (Thursday, 3:45 p.m.)
• Financial Factors for Fathers (Friday, 10:00 a.m.)
• Men and Mental Health: Time to Face the Facts (Thursday, 11:00 a.m.)

Barry Saunders, Raleigh News and Observer columnist, moderates a roundtable discussion on community issues as part of the Thursday luncheon. Among the panelists are: Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, President, National Partnership for Community Development and Dr. Graham Watt, Senior Policy Administrator, Commission on Workforce Development.

A Friday morning Town Hall Meeting on strengthening minority males will include Durham Mayor Bill Bell and Mr. Dwayne Sims, National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families, Minneapolis, MN as panelists.

Former “Hip-Hop” entertainer, Chris Martin, of the duo Kid ‘N’ Play presents his new video, “Apartment 36-D in Michael’s Place” on Friday morning. Martin’s video and accompanying “straight-talk” workshop focuses on making the right personal choices.

The list of conference speakers includes (time represents approximate start of speech):
• The Reverend Dr. Wilson Goode, the former mayor of Philadelphia (NC native)
             (Opening dinner speaker - Wed. 7:30 p.m.)
• Professor Joe Martin, President and Founder, RealWorld University
             (Keynote breakfast speaker - Thursday, 8:30 a.m.)
• Mr. David Miller, Urban Youth Ministries, Baltimore, MD
             (Awards Banquet speaker - Thursday, 7:00 p.m.)
• Mr. Cozell Harris, Fathers Resource Center, Atlanta, GA
             (Breakfast General Session - Friday 8:30 a.m.)
• Mr. Willie E. Gary, Senior Partner, Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson & Sperando, P.L.
              (Closing luncheon - Friday, 12:30 p.m.)

 

For more information go to:  www.4m2conference.com/



-NCCCS-

 

 

 




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