Black Male Initiative Conference

“Forging a Pathway to Success for Black Males” 

CONFERENCE THEMES

• Masculinity/personal identity
• Entrepreneurship
• Retention rates, graduation and student achievement
• Social/community engagement
• Socioemotional learning
• Mentoring
• Career and professional development

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Delaware State University Black Male Initiative Conference is to close the opportunity gap for African American, from school age to career. This national gathering will convene high school and college students, business professionals, educators, government officials and community leaders from around the United States of America in one place the capital city of Dover, Delaware. Additionally, the conference will be systematic and intentional in exploring the importance of education, best practices and choices to increase matriculation, retention and graduation rates of underrepresented students. Ultimately the conference will empower the “total” man and put him a path of wholeness and academic success in the nation and beyond.

Date for DSU College of Business BMI Conference: Friday, February 24th, 2023

TENTATIVE SESSIONS

• Navigating the Admissions and Financial Aid Journey
• Exploring Academic and Support Systems
• Exploring Empowering Experiences: The Bridge to Your Success- Study Abroad, Internships, Academic clubs
• No Squares in My Circle
• Culturally Competent Peer to Peer Mentoring
• Alumni Mentorship- How should a student organize his time to be academically and socially successful?  What are some of the pitfalls?
• Conversation with Current Grad Students
• Mental Illness, Depression, Isolation, lack of social skills, gun violence, alcohol and drug dependency- Educating Black Males in the COVID ERA
• 9 minutes and 36 seconds Black Male stereotypes and 13th Amendment, Mass Incarceration/ George Floyd- The Psychological Effects of these realities on Black Males retention and academic achievement
• Providing A Socio-Emotional Connection to Virtual Learning
• Promoting “Employability Skills” to Generation Z’s Young Black Males
• Soft Skills, The Other “Tool” for Success
• Power of Community Service: How can you become a change agent to impact the world in which we live?
• Entrepreneurship

OTHER CONFERENCE DETAILS

• Morning Plenary Session
• Continental breakfast and Registration 8:00 am -8:30am
• Luncheon with Celebrity Keynote Speaker – 12:00 pm
• Conference: 8:00am- 6:00pm
• BMI Social/Mixer: 4:00pm-6:00pm
• Location: Delaware State University
  • MLK Jr. Parlors and Glass Lounge
  • Bank of America Building Classrooms

Cost: Free