Dear Family,
As Black men who work every day in various capacities to serve the community for the greater good of humanity, we’ve come to the conclusion that our efforts are best served by uniting and working to provide an opportunity to educate the community on those areas that are critical to the Black family and, ultimately, to our survival. Naturally, those assembled come from various religious, social and cultural backgrounds. However, we’ve set aside any and all differences in order to take on the Herculean task of uplifting our people and filling in gaps as necessary. We are, therefore, very pleased to announce the second annual Let Us Make Man- The Gathering to Reclaim Black Manhood.
This two-day effort, March 7th-8th, 2008 at Macon State College, will not be a conference or a forum, but more of a coming together of our people for the express purpose of 1) changing the way we see and interact with one another, 2) changing the way we operate in the community and 3) changing the way we hold each other accountable. No one individual or organization can neither restore us nor return us to our former glory. Only by working together, can we positively impact the community. This concept of unity was central to our existence for some 400 years with our arrival upon these shores. Still, our very existence is dependent upon this unity and our willingness to set aside personal agendas, pride and attitudes. We must realize that we’re all one family, bound together by a common struggle, heritage and legacy. The Gathering will not be an end-all, but a continuation of what we know is possible. We know we are indeed the solution and that we possess the answer to overcome every challenge facing our community. We have been very thoughtful in the approach for The Gathering; drawing on wisdom gained from decades of tireless work, spiritual enlightenment and reverence to our ancestors. However, The Gathering will only be successful if you commit to not only attend, but to be a part of this ever-so-important dialogue.
March 7th: This evening before The Gathering is a special VIP reception and Literary Café. This event will be hosted by Georgia State Senators Vincent Fort and Robert Brown with a special invitation to civic and community leaders in the Macon area. This after-five event will have hors d’oevours and entertainment. The VIP reception will also feature a Literary Café with published authors, visual artists and some of Macon’s finest performers. This is an invitation-only event, so please contact us if you’re interested in attending.
March 8th: The second day of The Gathering will be dedicated to both learning and teaching. The modules focused upon will be 1) Law & Black Society; 2) Mentoring; 3) Educating Black Males; and 4) Spiritual Development. Please see a description of each module on the links within this website. Experts from around the country will present on Best Practices as it relates to the Black community.
This information is crucial to everyone whether you’re a tax-paying citizen, or work in community, government, corporate or otherwise. Still trying to find your way in the world? Then these modules will provide a better understanding of our society and how you can master your own destiny, so that a peaceful and successful long life is eminent.
Registration is simple. Fill out the online Registration Form and press ‘Submit’. You can print the Registration Form and fax it to (404) 244-2020. You can also call in your Registration and leave information at 404 622-3660 or send it to us by U.S. Mail. Because of space limitation, registration is only open to 500 participants. Last year Let Us Make Man ’07 at Atlanta Technical College drew an over-capacity crowd of nearly 700 participants. To ensure your space at this historic meeting in Macon, you are encouraged to register now, online at this website or by calling 404 622-3660. Once we reach capacity registration will close! So, don’t delay register today.
Thank you for visiting Let Us Make Man- The Gathering to Reclaim Black Manhood. We plan on seeing you at “The Gathering” at Macon State College.
Yours for a Stronger Family,
Brother Derrick Boazman
Let Us Make Man Organizer