South Carolina State University News February 24, 2016 Summit to address black male achievement SC State University's Black Male Project is gearing up to host its annual Brothers' Keeper Leadership Summit. For the past three years, SC State University has collaborated with local school districts in hosting the Brothers' Keeper Leadership Summit geared towards elementary/middle school aged students. This year, SC State University will host both an elementary/middle school summit (Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016) and a high school Brothers' Keeper Leadership Summit (Friday, Feb. 26, 2016). Both summits will be held on campus of SC State University in the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., respectively. These summits will be a gathering that actively addresses critical issues impacting all young males within public education. The mission of such an event is to improve and increase retention and academic success of young males in education, especially those of color. Through a diverse range of topics ranging from the development of manhood, the importance of education, cultural awareness and self-esteem, these summits place young men in an environment that seeks to empower and motivate them to excel in life and accept nothing but excellence from themselves and their communities. The summits' itineraries are both filled with dynamic sessions. Facilitators from the cohorts of Call Me MISTER from both SC State and Claflin universities will lead the elementary/middle school summit. Student leaders from SC State University's 101 Black Men of SCSU Society will serve as facilitators for the high school summit. The founder of the summits and program director for the Black Males Project and Call Me MISTER, Dr. Rashad Anderson, says the summits are critical to exploring and identifying possible solutions to what is a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the U.S. Department of Education in U.S. public schools, males, particular those of color, are least likely to read on grade level, most likely to be suspended or expelled, most likely to be referred to special education, least likely to enroll in gifted and talented programs, and the most likely to drop out of school. "We cannot continue to stand by the wayside and constantly recite the issues concerning males in education. The time has come to take an active hand in addressing these issues by going straight to the boys themselves and saying 'this is how I was able to be successful, and so can you,' " said Anderson. Approximately 1,000 young males from third through 12th grades are expected to attend this year's Brothers' Keepers Summits. Male students, especially those who are pursuing a degree in the field of education, are also encouraged to attend and volunteer. For more information about the summit, call Dr. Rashad Anderson at (803) 536-8690 or at rander29@scsu.edu<mailto:rander29@scsu.edu>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-592-4820 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.