Jackson Community College

African American Male Summit aims to increase awareness, find solutions to issues

The plight of African American males in today’s society will be the topic of a communitywide forum, the African American Male Summit, hosted by Jackson Community College on Friday, May 2 from 7:45 to 11 a.m. in the Federer Rooms A and B, Potter Center, on the Jackson campus.

The summit is designed to bring together community members and leaders to discuss current issues involving young African American men and to identify barriers that impede their success.  It will focus on three primary areas – education (K-12 and college), the penal system and the family. Organizer Lee Hampton, director of multicultural relations for JCC, hopes the summit will ultimately help to increase the successes of young African American males and offer possible insight on how those working with these young men may be more effective.

National and local data show that young African American males, in general, are facing increasingly difficult times in these particular areas in our society today, Hampton said. We are hoping to bring more awareness to these issues and begin working toward some solutions.

Hampton will facilitate discussion regarding education, while Lt. Chris Simpson of the Jackson City Police will discuss the penal system, and John Willis, director of the Martin Luther King Center in Jackson, will discuss family issues.

There is no charge to attend the summit, but participants are asked to register by April 25 by calling 517.796.8470.