A free online event to empower black boys and young black men has been announced, taking place on 26 and 27 June 2020.
The event is the brainchild of British entrepreneur Ademola Jonathan Adeyeba, whose social enterprise 1000 Black Boys aims to inspire black boys and young black men to unleash their potential and live a life of purpose.
The social enterprise was first launched in 2018, following a spate of young black boys being murdered, exponential levels of black boys being excluded from school, and a rising prison population.
The interactive webinar is in part inspired by the tragic killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests organised by Black Lives Matter.
The entrepreneur is keen to ensure the momentum of the past few weeks is not lost, at a time when conversations about racial inequality have perhaps reached levels not seen since the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The entrepreneur told the Rooftop it was important this new-found energy was used for real transformation which can impact the whole of society, and not just used as a temporary plaster.
Ademola said:
We have an opportunity to impact a whole generation of young black men, who have for too long have been negatively characterised. My experience of mentoring them has been completely different, and I have seen first-hand the reality of their potential to step into their power and succeed in business.
Just like the environmental protests of last year, recent tragic events have awoken a whole generation of young people standing for something new.
Recent events have also released a lot of anger and grief, which the black community has felt for centuries. It is really important now to take that anger and convert it to clarity and power, which can bring about real transformation, not just for black people but for the entire world.
The workshop will include talks and workshops from inspirational speakers, coaches and mentors who are passionate about engaging young black boys & men and their parents.
Topics include: building mental resilience; addressing stop & search by police; and supporting those about to be excluded, or already excluded, from school.
Recent months have highlighted the gap between the haves and the have nots in society, with people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds hit hardest by the Coronavirus.
Ademola said:
We’ve seen the impact of the pandemic on black and minority ethnic communities, and so we want to empower as many people as possible now ahead of any second potential wave hits.
To register visit www.1000BlackBoys.eventbrite.co.uk.
Image by 1000 Black Boys
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It’s funded by social enterprise Campaign Collective.