Growing Kings Inc., a non-profit that focuses on mentoring at-risk male students, is hosting a summit feauring renowned educator Dr. Steve Perry.
With the overwhelming surge of violent crimes during the month of March, Growing Kings Inc. is taking on the challenge to save Birmingham’s urban at-risk male youth. On Thursday, April 19, 2013, at the Boutwell Auditorium, the non-profit is teaming up with the City of Birmingham and the Education Foundation to host the first annual “State of the Male Youth Summit,” featuring nationally renowned educator, author and youth advocate, Dr. Steve Perry.
The first of its kind, the summit calls every high-school male enrolled in Birmingham City Schools to attend. In addition to Perry, the summit also features influential keynote speakers Phillip Agnew, executive director of Miami-based Dream Defenders, a non-profit directed by Black & Brown Youth to confront systemic inequality by building our collective power.
The summit includes panel discussions, an essay contest, distinguished hip-hop recording artists, a short documentary and more. The event highlights pioneers in education, leadership and civic engagement and is designed to inspire, enrich and motivate every male high-school student in the city.
“Many urban males lack identity, and as a result they turn to the images portrayed to them in media and entertainment,” says Marcus Carson, executive director of Growing Kings Inc. “We’ve organized this event to reach these young men at a level they can relate to, with some of their own classmates who have participated in our programs offering testimony. After this summit, we hope urban male students in Birmingham will embark upon a journey that will better position them for success, and ultimately save their lives.”
Carson goes on to address the significance of mentorship programs and the impact they have on reducing crime among male adolescents. The recent homicide of 15-year-old Jermaine Walton was a tragedy that hit home with Carson because the programs were not able to intervene in the lives of the young men involved to help them learn to avoid risky behaviors and situations.
“What is the State of the Black male in America? In many ways, we know the answer. It is a state of emergency – high incarceration, low education, scarce employment and lack of opportunity,” Agnew said. “But it is times like these where we must come together to discuss a plan for the future, while celebrating the successes of few like Growing Kings. It must be followed by action though. This Summit is the start.”
The State of the Young Male Summit is only open to high school males, but the general public can watch the conference and submit questions live via the internet. For more information on how to view The Summit, please visit www.growingkings.org.
Find additional updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/growingkings and Twitter at @GrowingKings.
***For media inquiries or to schedule an interview in advance of the Summit, please contact Bryna Reid at 205.394.5055.
About Growing Kings Inc.
Growing Kings, Inc., was founded in 2009, in response to the alarming number of adolescent males failing in various areas of life. The organization partners with targeted schools, corporations, foundations, and community organizations and leaders, to build cooperatives that work to enhance life-skills, ensure high school graduation, and provide young men with the tools needed to realize significance in their matriculation into manhood. Public schools are chosen based on the percentage of students who receive reduced and free lunch, the students’ in-school behavioral data, and standardized test scores.
Through weekly programming, Growing Kings offers 4th-12th grade at-risk male students the opportunity to engage mentors who have a commitment to the Growing Kings value statement, “Building Stronger Men Everyday”. Through school based enrichment and mentoring programs — Prince Charming, Measures of a Man, and Scholars and Gentlemen – the organization provides lessons, workshops, and activities that highlight and teach the proper steps a young man must take to graduate high school, obtain a degree, start a career and become the leaders their community needs to overcome poverty and disparity.
