By Kim Mousseau<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fall 2019, a committee assembled to create a conference to \u201ceducate, empower and motivate students to strive for excellence in education.\u201d The idea was to gather students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members for a day of discussion primarily centered around issues impacting men of color. The inaugural conference, or summit, was scheduled for spring 2020. And then, COVID-19 arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Richie Sebuharara, assistant director at the Multicultural Resource Center and one of the conference committee chairpersons, explained how the pandemic changed the course of the spring summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe developing situation around the pandemic posed a big challenge during the planning,\u201d Sebuharara said. \u201cWe were less than a month out from the intended conference day when everything shut down. We considered postponing until fall (2020), but we were firm in our decision that this should be a face-to-face experience. We didn\u2019t want to go virtual in our first year, so we decided to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following year, the committee reconvened to plan the inaugural Men of Color Summit for spring 2022. Along with Sebuharara, planning members included Jennifer Keegin, associate director for campus activities; Derek Jorden, resident director, Residential Life; Quanison Wright, deputy chief, New York State University Police at Binghamton; Tanyah Barnes, associate director of operations, Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; JR Beckford, project assistant, CSTEP; Kalis Nunes, community director, Broome Community College; Andrew Morrison, Iota Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and student members from the Men of Color Scholastic Society and the Student Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n