By Nicholas Ibarra | OBSERVER Staff Writer

Sacramento State will host the California State University (CSU) Young Males of Color Conference from April 6-7. The event is designed to boost college graduation rates and support for male students of color.

The conference will take place on April 6, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and April 7, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. in the University Union Ballroom. Portions of the event will be live-streamed. (Zoom links and times are posted below.)

The conference is titled “Beyond the Rhetoric: Eradicating Opportunity and Equity Gaps for Males of Color.” It will highlight research conducted by the CSU Young Males of Color Consortium, which explores the unique challenges faced by this demographic of students, as well as methods to better support them throughout college. 

Keynote speakers will include James L. Moore III, vice provost for Diversity and Inclusion and chief diversity officer at The Ohio State University, and J. Luke Wood, vice president for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity at San Diego State University; CSU’s Young Males of Color Consortium, students, faculty and staff. 

“The CSU Young Males of Color Consortium Conference aims to inspire and impact the entire CSU through strategies and best practices that inform work to bolster student success,” said Marcellene Watson-Derbigny, associate vice president for Student Retention and Academic Success. 

“The event helps to leverage some of the best minds in the nation surrounding critical work to eradicate and eliminate equity gaps,” she said. 

Links and times for the live-streamed portions:

Support for this Sacramento OBSERVER article was provided to Word In Black (WIB) by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. WIB is a collaborative of 10 Black-owned media that includes print and digital partners.