12-06-2025
Symposium offers blueprints for success of Black men
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A national conference focused on the success of Black boys and men is taking place in Grand Rapids this week.
The fourth annual Black Boys & Men National Symposium hosted by Grand Valley State University brought together educators, leaders and students to share strategies and build connections.
'We are grateful to have a record number of participants at the symposium,' B. Donta Truss, GVSU vice president for enrollment development and educational outreach, said. 'Through the past four years, we have worked to foster conversations, such as those that begin at this symposium, to bring community leaders together to identify solutions for success of all and bring those to their communities.'
Hundreds of people gathered at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel downtown to discuss the tools young Black men need to succeed. Among the many people absorbing the wisdom in various breakout rooms was Leroy Harvey, a 10th grader at Battle Creek Central.
'We are going to different sessions learning about what it means to be a Black male and how to help Black males around schools,' he said. 'The more I know, the more I can help my friends around in school and I can help people learn about how it is as a Black man in school.'
Harvey has set big goals for his future. He said hearing from inspirational speakers has given him a clear vision of what is possible.
'I see a lot of Black men that have high positions and have a lot of power, so it's cool to see Black males where I want to be,' he said. 'Knowing they've had the same or similar background to me, coming from a small town and seeing where they are now, it's cool to see where I could go and how I could get there.'
The goal of the symposium is to create long-term change by tackling the real-life challenges Black boys and men face every day. One attendee, a school counselor Brandon Weddle, works with students returning from long-term suspensions and said the conversations at the event hit close to home. He said the keynote speaker on Wednesday, Detroit native Judge Greg Mathis, gave him new tools to break generational cycles.
'Just seeing his story definitely impacted me to know that I'm on the right path and we can give other people what the blueprint should look like,' he said.
Judge Mathis gives keynote address at symposium
While ensuring a good academic standing was a big focus, one educator said the biggest focus is what happens outside the classroom. Marques Johnson, a paraprofessional at Lincoln Consolidated in Ypsilanti, said student success starts with understanding what's going on at home.
'Just focus on that so we can then conquer the educational part,' he said. 'Meeting the kids where they are right now and then bumping them up slowly but surely as we navigate through their lifestyle and then coming back to the educational part.'
He said he hears directly from students about the stereotypes Black men and boys face. The conference is helping to dismantle them.
'Getting to know the Black young men and not just having a stereotype is important,' said Johnson.
The symposium continues to grow year after year and for many who attend, it's a step toward building something better.
'There's just a lot of good things going on, a lot of powerful people sharing and informing people on how they can connect and network,' Harvey said. 'They need to do this more frequently.'
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