African American and Latino males remain historically underrepresented
throughout higher education, and their persistence and retention rates
are significantly lower than other student populations. Founded by
Hillsborough Community College (HCC) and sponsored by the HCC Office of
Equity and Special Projects, the eleventh annual Black, Brown and
College Bound Summit (BBCB) will be held on February 22
nd
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25
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at the Tampa Marriott Waterside. John
Legend will keynote this year’s Dr. Sylvia Marion Carley Luncheon on February
23
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at the Tampa Convention Center.
“Our goal is to provide the resources and support to help these young
men graduate and become productive members of their communities,” said Dr.
Ken Atwater, President of HCC. “BBCB provides a platform where
attendees can discuss the unique issues facing this population and make
lasting connections with successful minority males in their respective
industries.”
The summit brings together national experts, educational leaders,
practitioners and students to discuss the programs and strategies that
have proven effective in increasing the academic achievement of
underrepresented males in higher education.
Ohio-born John Legend is a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning,
platinum-selling singer-songwriter. Legend is a graduate of the
University of Pennsylvania where he studied English and African American
literature.
His work has garnered ten Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden
Globe Award, the BET Award for Best New Artist and the special Starlight
Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, among others. Legend’s highly
acclaimed fourth and most current studio album, Love In the Future,
features All of Me, Legend’s top selling song to date,
reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #1 on both Mainstream Top
40 and Rhythmic charts. Most recently, Legend won his first Academy
Award, first Golden Globe Award, a Grammy award, and a Critics’ Choice
Award for his song, Glory, that he wrote and performed with
Common for the film, Selma.
Throughout his career, Legend has worked to make a difference in the
lives of others. In 2007, he launched the Show Me Campaign
(ShowMeCampaign.org), an initiative that focuses on education as a key
to break the cycle of poverty, and has been widely recognized for his
leadership in this area. John sits on the boards of the Education
Equality Project, Teach for America, and Stand for Children and
co-chairs the Harlem Village Academies National Leadership Board of
Directors. Additionally, Legend supports LRNG, a movement dedicated to
inspiring innovation in the learning process to one that better reflects
the world we live in today. In 2015 Legend initiated the #FREEAMERICA
campaign, a campaign designed to change the national conversation
regarding America’s criminal justice system. Legend also serves as one
of the principals for Get Lifted Film Co., a film and television
production company based in Los Angeles.
Additional Speakers include: John Quinones, ABC News Veteran
and Host of What Would You Do?; Charles F. Coleman Jr., Esq.,
seasoned civil rights attorney and legal analyst; Dr. Damon
Williams, Senior Vice President for Program, Training, and Youth
Development Services for Boys & Girls Clubs of America; Dr.
Luis Ponjuan, Texas A&M University Associate Professor; Dr.
Carlos Muñoz, Jr., founder of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement and Dr.
Mark Anthony Neal, professor of Black Popular Culture in the
Department of African and African-American Studies at Duke University.
Full conference details including registration information can be found
at hccfl.edu/bbcb.
Hillsborough Community College serves more than 45,000 students annually
on campuses on Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa and in Plant City, Ybor City,
Brandon, and Ruskin. Hillsborough Community College is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools.
