Summit empowers men of color

By: Alexia Lang

Posted: 10/13/08

On Oct. 10, UMKC hosted the second annual African American and Latino (AALo) Empowerment Summit for Men of Color to address the needs of minorities on campus .

Organized by the Division of Diversity, Access and Equity, the summit was first established in 2007 to improve the personal, academic and social experiences of men of color within the faculty and student bodies.

The organizers hope the affects will not only be present during time spent at the university but also spill over to future jobs and life experiences.

This year's event was expanded to include young men from Kansas City Metropolitan High Schools. Three hundred high schoolers registered to attend the summit.

Keynote speakers included Professors Eddie Glaude and Victor Saenz, who are currently conducting research on the success of the men of color in the academy. Topics such as recruitment, retention and graduation were covered in workshops for both high school and college age students. - Alexia Lang