More than 300 students from twenty-three high schools came together Saturday, February 3, 2018, to take part in the fifth annual Young Men’s Leadership Conference – an event designed to inspire excellence and spur educational empowerment. The conference took place at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Students attended workshops, participated in a tie-tying male bonding activity and listened to men from various walks of life and role models who look like them and who have successfully navigated through the systems. Workshop topics included financial literacy, college and career readiness, etiquette, as well as health and wellness. Interim Superintendent Vivian Ekchian along with LAUSD Board Vice President Nick Melvoin and Los Angeles School Police Chief Steve Zipperman attended the conference to welcome the young men and to offer inspirational words. Over fifty men and women from the community volunteered for the event. The young men left empowered and excited.
“These young men are here because we need to celebrate all young men of color. We have brought a lot of people together – mentors, leaders, police officers and people in the community to help these young men understand how talented they are and the true potential they have” said Dr. Brenda Manuel, Administrator of the District’s Student Unit, part of Access, Equity and Acceleration in the Division of Instruction.
(Right Photo: Part of the tradition of the Young Men’s Leadership Conference is the tie-tying ceremony. Right: Board Member Nick Melvoin ties a tie to one of the participants of the conference.)
