Black Male Summit announces continued AT&T support; 2016 lineup

Pictured here are, from left, Lawrence J. Burns, vice president of advancement and co-chair; Lee Gill, chief diversity officer and co-chair; Darnell Davis, undergraduate Student Trustee on the UA Board of Trustees; Rep. Emelia Sykes (D-Ohio); and Steve Kristan, external affairs director, AT&T Ohio. 

Leaders with UA’s Black Male Summit today expressed appreciation to AT&T for its continued support of the University’s nationally recognized Black Male Summit and also previewed a lineup of nationally known speakers for the 2016 edition of the event. The Black Male Summit serves as a national platform for best practices and innovative strategies focusing on cradle-to-career success for African-American males.

In presenting AT&T’s $11,500 donation in continued support for the Black Male Summit, Steve Kristan, external affairs director, AT&T Ohio, said, “Keeping our teenagers in high school and preparing them for success after graduation benefits our students and our communities. The Black Male Summit is an essential event in our community that is helping at-risk youth stay in school and succeed academically. We are proud to support this program.”

Investing in next generation

“There is no greater investment that any organization can make than in the education of Ohio’s future leaders,” said Sykes. “AT&T’s involvement in the Black Male Summit at The University of Akron is to be commended, as it keeps our youth on track to graduate high school and prepare them to succeed in college and the workforce."

Lee Gill, chief diversity officer for UA and co-chair of the Black Male Summit, highlighted the speakers who have committed to participate in next year’s Black Male Summit, to be held April 8–9. “The lineup of speakers seems to get more impressive every year, and it indicates the growing national profile of the event,” he said.

Speakers who will be participating include:

• Tavis Smiley – Host of the “Tavis Smiley Show” and a special correspondent to the ABC and CNN networks.
• Marc H. Morial – President and CEO of the National Urban League.
• Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe – Founder and CEO of the Student African American Brotherhood Organization (SAAB).
• Roland Martin – Host and managing editor of TV One’s “News One Now.”
• Khalilah A. Shabazz, Ph.D. – Founder of the Student African American Sisterhood National (SAAS).
• Stephen A. Smith – Popular ESPN sports journalist.
• The Tom Joyner Morning Show will broadcast at the start of the Black Male Summit. 

Lawrence J. Burns, vice president of advancement at UA and Black Male Summit co-chair, noted, “AT&T’s continued support helps make this program possible. We thank AT&T and all our corporate partners for their efforts to strengthen diversity here in Akron and beyond.”

Media contacts: Wayne Hill, 330-972-2148, or whill@uakron.edu, or Dan Minnich, 330-972-6476 or dminnich@uakron.edu.