Clemson's Men of Color National Summit 'champions potential of young men of color'

The Men of Color National Summit is not just an event; it's a catalyst for change, organizers say.

The gathering hopes to offer pathways to higher education and career success for young men of color, emphasizing the importance of education, mentorship, and community engagement.

Clemson University will host the Men of Color National Summit from Thursday, April 11 to Friday, April 12 at the Greenville Convention Center, One Exposition Drive.

Influential leaders such as Fabio Tambosi, MBA, senior vice president of global marketing at ESL FACEIT Group; Kenny Smith, NBA studio analyst for the "Inside the NBA" show on TNT and Calvin Mackie, Ph.D., inventor, author, engineering professor, CEO, and founder of STEM NOLA, will give keynote speeches.

The event will also feature high school and college students, educators, business professionals, government officials, and community leaders.

Attendees encouraged to participate

At the summit, attendees are more than passive listeners, organizers say. They are encouraged to actively participate in conversations that will help refine their perspectives.

"All summit participants will have the unique opportunity to tailor their breakout sessions and speaker series," according to Felicia Benton-Johnson, vice president for diversity and inclusive excellence at Clemson University. "It is essential that organizations support students of different identities whose excellence brings a proven impact that has not yet been fully realized."

Nearly 2,000 individuals who will be at the 2024 summit come from a variety of backgrounds.

Fewer Black and Latino men enroll in and complete college

Fewer Black and Latino men enroll in and complete college compared to their female counterparts and White/Asian peers, Johnson said.

This year's summit themes are career and professional development, entrepreneurship, masculinity/personal identity, retention rates, graduation and student achievement, and social/community engagement.

In 2019, among men aged 25-29, 28% of Blacks and 18% of Hispanics had attained a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In comparison, 30% of Black women, 23% of Hispanic women, over 40% of white men, and nearly half of white women had attained a bachelor's degree or higher.

The gap is even greater at higher education levels, Johnson said.

Only half as many Black men ages 25-29 have a master's degree (4%) as Black women (9%), white men (8%), and white women (13%), she said. Just 2% of Hispanic men ages 25-29 have a master's degree.

"The Men of Color National Summit is a dynamic and inspiring event that champions the potential of young men of color, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to excel in their academic, professional, and personal lives," Johnson said. "When students express their cultural and personal identities, they experience tremendous maturation of their self-esteem and sense of belonging. They also gain the courage and support they need to work through any challenges that they may face."

To learn more about the Clemson University Men of Color National Summit, visit Clemson.edu/menofcolor.

The media kit includes a QR code for downloading the event app, which has the most up-to-date schedule information.

Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: Clemson's Men of Color National Summit focuses on education, careers