With high dropout, unemployment and incarceration rates, more than 50 organizations convene to develop action plans to address a disturbing trend.

PHILADELPHIA

Numerous organizations intent on reversing alarming disparities in school dropout and incarceration rates among Black males gathered in Philadelphia recently for a Call to Action Summit. The event was sponsored by the Presidents’ Round Table of African-American CEOs, a group of Black community college presidents. Summit participants were tasked with developing concrete action plans to remedy what many call a Black male “crisis.”

“The Presidents’ Round Table thought it was critical that we bring individuals together to make certain that we recognize and understand the critical need for us to move,” said Dr. Charles A. Taylor, convener of the Round Table and president of Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Va. “I don’t want to be here five years from now and continue to talk about the crisis. … We have all the statistics, we have all the research, now is the time to stop talking and start doing,” he added.

Dr. Andrew Jones, Round Table secretary and Dallas County Community College District vice chancellor for educational affairs, added context to the discussion in his remarks before the assembled crowd, which included community college presidents from across the nation. “In most of our major cities in this country, less than 50 percent of African-American males graduate from high school.

In some cases, 80 percent of the state prison population is African-American males,” Jones said. “We know that it’s not the kind of thing to lay the foundation for healthy economies, a healthy society and a safe society. We’re here today to help us galvanize our efforts and make sure this never again becomes typical,” he added.

During the summit, participants were divided into six groups tasked with developing recommendations on how to address various key components of the Round Table’s African American Male Initiative. The groups developed action plans on establishing a central clearinghouse of best practices among Black male initiatives nationwide, identifying funding resources, enhancing data collection and collaboration, launching effective marketing campaigns, and influencing public policy to respond more effectively to the numerous challenges facing Black males.