In just about three weeks, the 6th annual International Colloquium on Black Males in Engineering will take place in Toronto, Canada. As we mentioned before, there are many aspects of #ICBME17 to look forward to, and today the keynote speakers join the list of reasons why this year’s colloquium will be memorable. Here’s a sneak peek at who we are excited to hear from at #ICBME17:
William A. Keyes IV, Ph.D.
William A. Keyes IV is the president of The Institute for Responsible Citizenship, a leadership development program for talented African American males. Mr. Keyes IV received his Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
Mr. Keyes IV previously served as Executive Director of the Institute on Political Journalism and once served as a Senior Policy Advisor in The White House. He serves in the Board of Advisors for the Leadership Institute and as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs’ Leadership Focus Group at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His work at the University of North Carolina and The Institute for Responsible Citizenship helped improve the experiences of Black males in higher education across the country.
Thomas A. LaVeist, Ph.D.
Dr. Thomas A. LaVeist is the chairman of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health. Dr. LaVeist received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a doctorate degree in medical sociology from the University of Michigan, and his postdoctoral fellowship in public health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Dr. LaVeist’s research focuses on racial disparities in health-related outcomes.
Dr. LaVeist has published more than 100 articles in scientific journals. He received the “Innovation Award” from the National Institutes of Health in 2008 and the “Knowledge Award” from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health in 2006. He was also elected into the National Academy of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 2013. Dr. LaVeist also worked on several books, including the upcoming “Legacy of the Crossing: Life, Death and Triumph among Descendants of the World’s Greatest Forced Migration”, of which he served as editor.
Sean “Subliminal” Mauricette
Sean “Subliminal” Mauricette is passionate about empowering and educating our youth. The award-winning Toronto-based actor, designer, emcee, and music producer is the founder of L.I.F.T. (Laying Important Foundations Together), an “edu-taining” series of motivational talks and interactive workshops. His motivational talks draw on vast personal and professional experiences to tackle issues such as peer pressure, respect, and the importance of education. These interactive workshops focus on teamwork, self-esteem, communication, problem solving, and encourage critical thinking. From teaching musical production to increasing media literacy, these workshops provide students with multiple outlets for self-expression.
Subliminal’s groundbreaking use of multi-media to teach some of Canada’s most at-risk youth has gained the attention of some of Canada’s top educators. Among them is Dr. Laura Mae Lindo, who has used the L.I.F.T. module in various universities across Canada to help teach educators how to better engage behavioural students.
A graduate from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Architecture, Sean was the first ever recipient of the Arts and Culture Award presented to him by the Black Students Association of the University of Toronto. Over the years, Sean has remained committed to youth. His successes include: receiving the 2004 Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the Counsellors’ Association of Ontario for his work with students, being hand-picked to host the 2010 Harry Jerome Awards (Canada’s most prestigious award ceremony honoring African Canadians), and receiving the 2011 Scarborough Urban Hero Award for his work with high-risk youth in Toronto.
In addition, he partnered with the YMCA and Toronto Community Housing as the head architectural designer for a unique support center for young fathers, and received the 2012 Medal of Appreciation from the United Nations Association of Canada for his work as a motivational speaker. The gifted lyricist caught the attention of the historic Southern Poverty Law Center. The esteemed civil rights organization is using Sean’s poems for their alternative-learning curriculum for teachers across the United States. Through performing, lecturing and, mentoring, Sean Mauricette continues to cement his role as an active leader in the community. He is a living example of his favourite saying: “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Carl James, Ph.D.
Dr. Carl James is the Jean Augustine Chair of Education, Founding Director of the York Centre for Education, and a Professor at York University in Toronto, Canada. His work pertains to issues and concerns of marginalized groups, with a special focus on equity, inclusion, and social justice.
Dr. James received the Harry Jerome Award from the Black Business & Professional Association in 2013, the African Canadian Achievement Award from Pride News Magazine in 2009, and the William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations from the City of Toronto in 2008. In 2012, Dr. James was elected as Fellow in the Royal Society of Canada. His most recent publications include “Life at the intersection: Community, class and schooling” and “Race and well-being: The lives, hopes, and activism of African Canadians.”
Lance T. McCready, Ph.D.
Dr. Lance T. McCready is an Associate Professor in the Department of International and Multicultural Education at the University of San Francisco, where he teaches courses on race theory, urban education, LGBT+ studies, and qualitative research. Dr. McCready received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Carleton College and his graduate degrees from University of California-Berkeley in Social and Cultural Studies. His focus is on the health, education, and employment opportunities of marginalized and radicalized youth, especially young Black men and LGBT+ youth of color.
Dr. McCready previously served as the Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education at the University of Toronto. He also served as Co-Principal Investigator of the Many Men, Many Voices (3MV) project at the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention in Toronto, and Principal Investigator of the Educational Trajectories of Young Black Men study (in collaboration with the John Howard Society of Toronto).
He is the author of the book “Making space for diverse masculinities: Identity, intersectionality, and engagement in an urban high school.” His work has also appeared in several research publications and journals.
Michael Coteau
Michael Coteau is the Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He will deliver a keynote focused on Ontario’s Black Youth Action Plan, a new four-year plan aimed to eliminate systemic, race-based disparities for Black children and youth in Ontario.
Coteau previously served as a Toronto District School Board Trustee for Ward 17. He also served as the Executive Director/CEO of a national adult literacy firm, and worked as a community organizer in Scarborough, Ontario.
Patrick Case
Patrick Case is the Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Equity Officer and Education Equity Secretariat at the Ministry of Education in Toronto. He will deliver an address titled “Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan to Support Student Achievement and Well-Being.”
Case was previously an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Guelph, and Chair of the Board of Ontario’s Human Rights Legal Support Centre. He has served as a key advocate for civil and human rights for decades.
Denise O’Neil Green
Dr. Denise O’Neil Green serves as Ryerson University’s inaugural Assistant Vice President/ Vice-Provost, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). With over 20 years of administrative and teaching experience, along with expertise in diversity research, Dr. Green provides leadership, advocacy, expertise and coordination of initiatives that identify, educate and address systemic barriers at Ryerson University. She leads her team in fostering a visible presence for EDI as integral components of teaching, learning, research and administrative functions for the entire Ryerson community.
Dr. Green’s dedication to Diversity and Inclusion has had an impact beyond her campus communities, resonating within academic circles. She has authored/co-authored numerous journal articles, book chapters and papers on diversity and higher education, qualitative methods, and student success. Dr. Green co-authored The Case for Affirmative Action on Campus: Concepts of Equity, Considerations for Practice and Leveraging New Media as Social Capital for Diversity Officers: A How-To Guide for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Professionals Seeking to Use Social Media to Carve a Niche in the Social Networking Space in Cutting-Edge Technologies and Social Media Use in Higher Education. She is also Executive Editor of InstitutionalDiversityBlog.com.
Damon Williams
Damon Williams is the former Senior Vice President of the Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA). Prior to his position at the BGCA, Dr. Williams founded the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement and served as inaugural Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A generational leader, his desire to achieve meaningful change enabled him to engage at all levels of #strategicdiversityleadership by establishing 8 and 9 figure infrastructures and initiatives; working with more than 1,000 colleges and universities, Fortune 100, and non-profit organizations driving impact for millions of diverse youth; and contributing trailblazing scholarship for leaders everywhere.
We thank all of our amazing keynote speakers for joining us this year! Stay tuned for the full #ICBME17 schedule and other colloquium related announcements in the following weeks!
On-site registration for the colloquium is still available. Click here to register and here to reserve a hotel room.
We hope to see you at the 2017 Colloquium, held in Toronto in October, 2017. Please head over to the Colloquium website now to learn more about the event. You can also follow us on Twitter: @_icbme and look for our hashtag: #ICBME17.
Featured image credited to @EverForwardClub