All Black Men Matter Conference Taking Place In Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Housatonic Community College is hosting a conference focusing on the personal and societal issues facing black men and boys statewide and regionally from 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25.

The State of Black Manhood/All Black Men Matter Conference will be Feb. 25 at Housatonic Community College.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Jay Waitkus

10/15/2016 5:00 a.m.

The event, tentatively titled “The State of Black Manhood/All Black Men Matter Conference,” will include a full-day series of workshops covering topics such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, mental well being and body/self image.

The conference, presented by Hidden Acres Farms, Dream Life Works and Mudd Muck, also includes a lecture on how parental incarceration can affect children.

Tickets, which include breakfast and lunch, are $35.50 for adults. Kids ages 12-17 are free.

The full conference agenda is:

• 7:30-8:45 a.m.: Vendor check-in and set-up

• 9-9:45 a.m.: Continental breakfast/vendor visits

• 10-10:15 a.m.: Welcome and introductions, outline of agenda

• 10:15-11 a.m.: Plenary Speaker Louis Reed, founder of Louis L. Reed Empowerment Group

• 11-11:30 a.m.: Break/performance: Kelvin Young, assistant executive director, Advocacy Unlimited/Toivo

• 11:30 am to 12:30 p.m.: "The State of Black America," Valarie Shultz-Wilson, CEO, Urban League of Southern Connecticut

• 12:30-1:15 p.m.: Lunch

• 1:15-2:30 p.m.: Afternoon sessions A-C

Session A: "Radical Self Acceptance for Black Boys and Youth," Kevin Muhammad, Director, Mudd Muck

Session B: "How Parental Incarceration Can Affect the Children Left Behind and What You Can Do to Support Them," Aileen Keays Yeager, project manager, Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy

Session C: "Introduction to Rape Culture for Men and Boys," Olusanya Bey

• 2:30-2:45 p.m.: Break/Performance: Tracey Caldwell/Mind Evolution

• 2:45-4:15 p.m.: Afternoon sessions D-F

Session D: "Living with an Open Heart," Enroue Halfkenny, Healing and Liberation Counseling

Session E: "The Loss of Content in Mainstream Hip-Hop has Desensitized Our Society," Rashawn "Pain United with Passion" Asbury, ForUnity

Session F: Topic to be announced, Kenn Harris, director of New Haven Healthy Start

• 4:15-4:30 p.m.: Break/Performance: Jasmin Agosto

• 4:30-5:15 p.m.: Closing and final remarks: Wali Muhammad, executive director of Happy Family Clinical Services

For more information, to serve as a facilitator or join the conference's planning committee, contact Michelle Bicking at ourhiddenacresfarm@gmail.com.

For ticket information, click here.

The college is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Bridgeport and receive free news updates.