MSU Hosts 5th 'Boys To Men' Conference

Montclair State University hosted the fifth annual "Boys to Men" conference on March 18.

Students from more than 20 schools attended the event, which is designed to “empower and mentor New Jersey urban teens in grades 9 to 11.”

High schools included in the event included: Eagle Academy of Newark, Academy of Earth and Space Science (Paterson), and James Ferris High School (Jersey City).

Members of the Abyssinian Baptist Church were also on hand for the half-day program, which featured motivational speaker, Newark native and Montclair State alumnus Rahfeal Gordon as its keynote speaker.

The slate of activities included a panel discussion with alumni of Montclair State's EOF program and actor Ladun Thompson, as well as inspirational remarks from Gordon and current student Dean Mulzac.

"A lot of times in life, you need a major shakeup," said Mulzac. "All it takes is one good thing to change your life. So when those good things come to challenge you and take you to new heights, go with them, and let them change your life."

"Nationwide, young men of color in institutions of higher education have been declining, and it's alarming," said Daniel Jean, executive director of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program and Academic Development at Montclair State and the event's organizer. "Programs such as this conference, tailored especially for urban teens, have never been more critically needed."

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Photo courtesy of Montclair State University