Black and Brown Summit

"Real Talk: Mental Health & Manhood" creates a safe space for young Black and Brown men to have honest conversations about mental health, identity, and resilience. Led by youth peers from ACE’s YOMHE program, this workshop tackles stigma head-on while sharing real tools and resources to strengthen minds, build confidence, and support each other’s growth.

This workshop equips young Black and Brown men with tools to recognize how their daily habits shape their future and identity. We create space to individually identify which habits fuel their brilliance and which reinforce barriers. Through interactive discussion and self-reflection, participants gain a clear understanding of how their personal habits navigate their journey. These tools empower them to structure their lives intentionally so they are not defined by social structures but by their discipline and choices. The workshop affirms their value, highlights resilience, and provides practical strategies to move beyond hype and live rooted in purpose.

Step into history with Black Wall Street 101 and an Interactive Game Session! This engaging workshop introduces participants to the powerful legacy of Tulsa’s Black Wall Street—one of the most prosperous Black communities in U.S. history. Through stories of leadership, entrepreneurship, and resilience, attendees will uncover lessons from Greenwood’s success. Participants will then play an interactive board game that simulates real businesses, negotiations, and strategies from the era. By the end, learners will gain foundational knowledge of Black Wall Street and the importance of ownership and collaboration within the community. This session is led by De'Von Truvel, creator of Black Wall Street the Board Game.

Rooted in the Social Development Strategy, this workshop empowers young men of color to critically examine the barriers they face, recognize their strengths, and commit to high standards in every area of life. Participants will reflect on how identity is shaped by social, cultural, historical, and political forces, while also celebrating resilience and achievement in the face of adversity. The experience is structured around five key focus areas: • Opportunities: Youth engage in relevant, meaningful activities that invite leadership and voice. • Skills: Participants develop practical tools to thrive in school, relationships, and personal growth. • Recognition: Effort, growth, and success are acknowledged to reinforce self-worth and motivation. • Bonding: Supportive relationships are built with mentors and peers to create connection and belonging. • Clear Standards for Behavior: Positive expectations are established to guide choices and values aligned with success. This session is enhanced by the lived experiences and insights of four dynamic presenters, Endalkachew Abebaw, Heber Molina, Luis Peña Bermejo, and Roderick Branca, who share their personal and professional journeys as examples of leadership, resilience, and excellence.

Join us for an interactive workshop focused on the power of civic engagement and the vital role each of us plays in shaping our communities. This session will explore the importance of voting, advocacy, and active participation in local and national issues. I will be going over the history of Voting rights, Gerrymandering, Re-districting and BIPOC civic engagement in general. We will be speaking from a non-partisan place; I want to make sure youth have a chance to make their own decisions. Participants will gain practical tools to become informed voters, learn how to advocate effectively for causes they care about, and discover ways to mobilize others in their communities. Whether you're new to civic engagement or looking to deepen your impact, this workshop is designed to inspire and equip you to be a catalyst for change.

This workshop is an urgent call to awaken the social and political consciousness of La Raza and claim the indigenous blueprint for your life. We will dive into the pre-colonial Mesoamerican concept of Nahui Ollin (The Four Movements), an ancient, sacred epistemology for achieving balance and self-mastery. This framework is built upon four essential ways of being: Reflection (Tezcatlipoca), Transformation (Xipe Totec), Wisdom (Quetzalcoatl), and Action (Huitzilopochtli). For too long, systemic oppression has tried to erase these powerful roots, but our ancestral knowledge is a practical map for transformation and survival. We will use Nahui Ollin as a critical lens to deconstruct Hip Hop, the poetry of our modern indigenous diaspora, identifying these four movements within the verses of our cultural texts. Ultimately, this is about moving from being a subject of your circumstances to the author of your future, harnessing this wisdom to reconstruct yourselves and demand collective liberation.

Grounded by quotes from Assata Shakur, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison, participants will view comedy and poetry clips to discuss, recognize, and critique institutional barriers and out of date traditions. Participants will do timed writing exercises based on prompts to explore their own voice & beliefs. No prior creative writing experience needed.

In this workshop students will explore topics around manhood and masculinity through small group and large group discussions. Students will identify and define toxic and healthy masculinity while self-reflecting on past experiences and dreams for the future.

This interactive workshop is designed to empower Black and Brown male students to take ownership of their goals, their growth, and their commitments to themselves and their communities. Building on themes of accountability, brotherhood, and self-leadership, students will engage in dynamic group discussions, real-world scenario challenges, and peer-driven reflection activities. Using culturally relevant media participants will explore what it means to make and keep promises—both personally and collectively. Students will create a personal “Accountability Pact,” identify an accountability partner, and walk away with tools like SMART goals and self-reflection strategies to help them stay on track. The session emphasizes active participation, storytelling, and peer connection over lecture, creating a safe and affirming space for young men to uplift one another and commit to their next level of growth.

Rooted in legacy and reaching beyond every boundary, “A1” invites young Black and Brown men to reject imitation and fully own their brilliance. This keynote blends storytelling, spoken word, and reflection to remind us: our roots ground us, but our brilliance has no borders. Marcus Harden draws from his journey as an educator, leader, and proud Black man to explore how to live authentically, lead with purpose, and love ourselves and our communities with intention. Attendees will leave grounded in who they are and unleashed in who they can become.