Request for Media Coverage
Our youth need your attention and exposure...
Witness this powerful video by Alan Crotzer from June 16th 2008 Conference.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past News Articles
Florida Times Union - 06/12/08
The Florida Times-Union
June 12, 2008
Boys2Men forum message: 'Violence is preventable'
By MATT GALNOR,
The Times-Union
Top city and community leaders often refer to Jacksonville's staggering homicide rate as an "epidemic."
Sponsors of Friday's Boys2Men conference are using the medical parlance as well with this year's theme: "Violence is preventable."
Homicide is the leading cause of death for black males between the ages of 15 and 34, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Part of the prevention is letting young black males know what opportunities are available and that they can make the choice productive member of the community, said Jermyn Shannon EL, one of the event organizers.
The free daylong event will include workshops for teens and adults, a mock urban debate by the Baltimore Urban Debate League and experts speaking about violence and the difference between boys and men.
Most young black men don't feel a part of Jacksonville, and Shannon EL said he doesn't blame them.
"They're a part of the MySpace community, they're a part of the YouTube community, but they don't feel a part of Jacksonville's community," said Shannon EL, also vice president of marketing for the Blacksonville Community Network.
As with many other initiatives, the third annual Boys2Men conference will try to recruit mentors, particularly black men who are needed to share their experiences with today's youth, Shannon EL said.
Part of the problem is getting men to act like men and not shy away from teens, said Eddie Staton, national president of Men Against Destruction Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder, commonly known as MAD DADS.
"Once men stop being afraid of boys, we can begin to help them," Staton said.
On top of feeling a part of society, Staton said self-esteem needs to be stressed to young men to get them to care about themselves and others.
Other topics will include a panel discussion on interaction with the criminal justice system, the generational effects of violence on the family and a question-and-answer session on teen male health issues.
matt.galnor@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4550
This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061208/met_289329609.shtml.
More from the Times Union >
|
 |
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Media credentials are available only for working media who wish to cover the BOYS2MEN CONFERENCE ’08 by photography, videography, interviews, pro bono advertisements, commentaries, editorials, and more!
To request credentials, please us here, EMAIL.
*SHOW TAPING SCHEDULE:
>
Friday, June 13 at 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
* VIEW SCHEDULE HERE:
------------------------------------------
important Links
|
