Actor Hill Harper of “CSI New York,” Dr. George McKenna LAUSD Board member and educator whose life was profiled in a 1986 movie starring Denzel Washington, and Danny Bakewell owner of the Los Angeles Sentinel and producer of Taste of Soul, will be among the featured speakers at the 8th Annual African American Male Educational Network Development Summit on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 at the Los Angeles Airport Westin Hotel. Actor William Allan Young, best known for his roles on the television series “Moesha” and “CSI,” will host the award show portion of the event.
This summit is sponsored by the African American Male Educational Network Development (A2MEND), a group comprised of African American male administrators who utilize their scholarly and professional expertise to foster institutional change within the community college system. Their goal is to support African American men in their career development, advancement, and success, explained Dr. Walter Jones, A2MEND Board President and Dean of Academic Affairs at West Los Angeles College.
This year’s conference theme, “From Plan to Action: Examining Equity Minded Approaches to African American Male Success” capitalizes on the movement towards creating equity for all students in the California community colleges. These summits bring together college faculty, staff, administrators and students from across the country to address the administrative and instructional strategies that have an impact on the success of African American male students.
The keynote address will be by Bakewell who is also a civil rights activist and entrepreneur. In addition to his on screen career, Harper is the bestselling author of Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest our Destiny and the founder of Manifest Your Destiny, a non-profit youth serving organization. Also speaking is Dr. Kevin Powell, author of Open Letters to America.
The awards dinner will grant 20 scholarships to program protégés and recognize A2MEND’s partners who have championed the struggle for educating African American males in the community colleges.
More information on this event can be found at http://a2mend.org/conference.html.