Black Male Symposium February 28 at Claflin University
Feb 27, 2014
Claflin University will highlight “Black Male Achievement: Strategies and Techniques in Service Delivery to African-American Males” during its fourth annual Black Male Symposium on Friday, February 28.
“Claflin University is proud of its leadership role in efforts to ensure that the African-American male population has access to a high-quality education and achieves success after graduation,” Claflin President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale said. “If our nation is going to maintain its position among world leaders, the black male population will play a crucial role in sustaining America’s tradition of world leadership.”
The symposium will begin with registration at 8 a.m. in the Main Lobby of Claflin’s Ministers’ Hall. Presiding over the event will be Shaquan Kearse, Class of 2014.
The keynote speaker for the symposium will be “Mr. I’M POSSIBLE” Keith Brown, one of the most sought-after professional speakers, consultants and change agents in the world. A legislative liaison and professional speechwriter since 2000, Brown is the author of such works as CHITLINS – Creative Helpful Intuitive Thoughts Lifting Individuals Naturally Seeking; not impossible – I’M POSSIBLE; and Thinking It and Then Inking It, as well as the co-author of a number of other titles.
Brown, whose personality helped propel him on “Showtime at the Apollo” and “Family Feud,” regularly works with Title Programs, Communities in Schools, Head Start, Federal TRIO Programs, the National Youth At Risk Conference, and many other organizations and school systems globally.
His presentation at Claflin’s Black Male Symposium will begin at 1:30 p.m. For more information about Brown, visit http://www.keithlbrown.com/.
Also on the program is a research panel, facilitated by distinguished professor of educational leadership at Clemson University Dr. Lamont Flowers, to discuss black male achievement among a research collaborative group and educators, and an education panel featuring South Carolina superintendents, educators and law enforcement officials, facilitated by Claflin’s Dean of the School of Education Dr. Valerie Harrison. The panels will be held at 9:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m., respectively.
Lunch will be served from noon to 1:15 p.m., allowing attendees an opportunity to network.
“The Black Male Symposium is designed to provide practical strategies and techniques for colleges and universities, schools, agencies, community groups, parents and programs interested in improving the quality of life for black males,” said Devin Randolph, Claflin’s assistant vice president for Student Development and Services and director of residential life. “Given the substantial obstacles to equal educational opportunities that still remain in America’s educational system, more specifically with black males, this symposium will provide a forum to discuss critical issues and solutions to improving educational outcomes and retention for this population.
“Our goal is simple – we want to empower and motivate black males to see the importance of the role they play in all sequential levels of education and society.”
For more information about this year’s Black Male Symposium, call Devin Randolph at 803-535-5301 or email devin.randolph@claflin.edu.