This document discusses engaging African American and other minority men. It aims to review best practices for recruiting men and discuss innovative ways to engage them. Some key challenges to engagement include relationship conflicts, parenting knowledge, income deficiencies, and negative media portrayals. Best practices include building relationships through mentoring, empowering men, and creating culturally sensitive programs.

1. 11
Engaging African American andEngaging African American and
Other Minority MenOther Minority Men

2. 22
Engaging African American MenEngaging African American Men
ObjectivesObjectives
 To discuss how more challenged menTo discuss how more challenged men
can be a part of family literacy andcan be a part of family literacy and
fatherhood effortsfatherhood efforts
 To review current best practices regardingTo review current best practices regarding
recruiting menrecruiting men
 To discuss innovative or out of the boxTo discuss innovative or out of the box
ways to engage minority menways to engage minority men

3. 33
Engaging African AmericanEngaging African American
MenMen
 ““If you control a man’s thinking you do not haveIf you control a man’s thinking you do not have
to worry about his action. When you determineto worry about his action. When you determine
what a man shall think you do not have towhat a man shall think you do not have to
concern yourself about what he will do. If youconcern yourself about what he will do. If you
make a man feel that he is inferior, you do notmake a man feel that he is inferior, you do not
have to compel him to accept an inferior statushave to compel him to accept an inferior status
for he will seek it for himself.for he will seek it for himself.

4. 44
Engaging African AmericanEngaging African American
MenMen
 ““If you make a man think that he is justly anIf you make a man think that he is justly an
outcast, you do not have to order him to theoutcast, you do not have to order him to the
back door. He will go without being told; and ifback door. He will go without being told; and if
there is no back door, his very nature willthere is no back door, his very nature will
demand one.”demand one.”
Carter G. WoodsonCarter G. Woodson
The Mis-Education of the NegroThe Mis-Education of the Negro

5. 55
Engaging African American MenEngaging African American Men
 What can determine what happens toWhat can determine what happens to
these boys as they grow up?these boys as they grow up?

6. 66
THE ROLE OF FATHERHOODTHE ROLE OF FATHERHOOD
AND FAMILY LITERACYAND FAMILY LITERACY

7. 77
ENGAGING AFRICANENGAGING AFRICAN
AMERICAN MENAMERICAN MEN
Trayvon Martin Eric GarnerTrayvon Martin Eric Garner
Michael BrownMichael Brown

8. 88
What Impacts Engagement ofWhat Impacts Engagement of
Minority men?Minority men?
 Relationship ConflictsRelationship Conflicts
 Parenting KnowledgeParenting Knowledge
 Income DeficienciesIncome Deficiencies
 Self-Knowledge/Self-Love/ManhoodSelf-Knowledge/Self-Love/Manhood
ExpectationsExpectations
 Gate Keeper MentalitiesGate Keeper Mentalities
 Systems Navigation and its ChallengesSystems Navigation and its Challenges

9. 99
Issues of African American andIssues of African American and
Other Minority MenOther Minority Men
 PovertyPoverty
 EmploymentEmployment
 EducationEducation
 HealthHealth
 Environment( Codes of the Streets)Environment( Codes of the Streets)
 HousingHousing

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Engaging African AmericanEngaging African American
MenMen
 Racism,Racism,
 Crime,Crime,
 The Prison SystemThe Prison System
 Emotional LiteracyEmotional Literacy
 (Fear, Anger, Psychological damage)(Fear, Anger, Psychological damage)
 Media Perceptions and PortrayalsMedia Perceptions and Portrayals

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The Quote – The Question?The Quote – The Question?
““It is easier to build strong children than toIt is easier to build strong children than to
repair broken men.”repair broken men.”
Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass
How do we engage broken or multipleHow do we engage broken or multiple
barrier men?barrier men?

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Engagement MentalityEngagement Mentality
 Defined in various waysDefined in various ways
 Deficit Approach Vs Co- ConstructionDeficit Approach Vs Co- Construction
 Mother primary caretakers and drivers ofMother primary caretakers and drivers of
engagementengagement
 Majority of information collected fromMajority of information collected from
mothersmothers
 New understanding of the presence ofNew understanding of the presence of
men on the well-being of childrenmen on the well-being of children

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Engagement QuestioningEngagement Questioning
 Are our efforts culturally sensitive?Are our efforts culturally sensitive?
 What would motivate a father to join ourWhat would motivate a father to join our
program?program?
 What kind of environment and options do weWhat kind of environment and options do we
present or help men create?present or help men create?
 What types of non-traditional outreach are weWhat types of non-traditional outreach are we
doing?doing?
 How do you get meaningful feedback fromHow do you get meaningful feedback from
men? What changed because of their feedback?men? What changed because of their feedback?

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EngagementEngagement QuestioningQuestioning
 Is your outreach to men effective? Why orIs your outreach to men effective? Why or
Why not?Why not?
 How effective are your mentoring andHow effective are your mentoring and
leadership activities for men?leadership activities for men?
 What safe haven environments or spacesWhat safe haven environments or spaces
are provided for men? How does this takeare provided for men? How does this take
place?place?

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The Larger DiscussionThe Larger Discussion
 What are local and national, agencies,What are local and national, agencies,
coalitions, and stakeholders doing to engagecoalitions, and stakeholders doing to engage
minority men?minority men?
 What engagement activities are the businesses,What engagement activities are the businesses,
schools, churches, courts and workforceschools, churches, courts and workforce
development entities conducting regarding thedevelopment entities conducting regarding the
recruitment of minority men?recruitment of minority men?

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Best PracticesBest Practices
 Change Perceptions/Educate: Heinz FoundationChange Perceptions/Educate: Heinz Foundation
–”Portrayal and Perceptions: African American–”Portrayal and Perceptions: African American
Men & Boys”Men & Boys”
 Build Relationships: Engage them, Mentor them,Build Relationships: Engage them, Mentor them,
Develop them, Give them ownershipDevelop them, Give them ownership
 Help them understand and talk about theirHelp them understand and talk about their
History: ”The Black Fatherhood Project” byHistory: ”The Black Fatherhood Project” by
John ThierryJohn Thierry

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ResourcesResources
 NationalNational Responsible FatherResponsible Father
Clearinghouse-Clearinghouse-
 Fathersource-Fathersource-fatherhood.orgfatherhood.org
 Annie Casey Foundation 40Annie Casey Foundation 40
resourcesresources
 Fathers. COMFathers. COM

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ANNIE CASEY FOUNDATIONANNIE CASEY FOUNDATION

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More ResourcesMore Resources
 www.nlffi.org/ The National Latinowww.nlffi.org/ The National Latino
Fatherhood and Family InstituteFatherhood and Family Institute
 www.nationalcompadresnetwork.comwww.nationalcompadresnetwork.com
 www.nativeamericanfathers.org/ Nativewww.nativeamericanfathers.org/ Native
American Fatherhood & FamiliesAmerican Fatherhood & Families
 www.fragilefamilies.princeton.edu/ Thewww.fragilefamilies.princeton.edu/ The
Fragile Families and Child WellbeingFragile Families and Child Wellbeing
StudyStudy

20. 2020
ENGAGEMENT SOLUTIONSENGAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
 ““Mentoring is critical if we intend to addressMentoring is critical if we intend to address
much of the pain, abuse, and abandonment thatmuch of the pain, abuse, and abandonment that
African males suffer from”African males suffer from”
Vance Simms –Director –Fathers Matter- Phoenix, ArizonaVance Simms –Director –Fathers Matter- Phoenix, Arizona
 Speak to the issues of how Black and minoritySpeak to the issues of how Black and minority
men have been marginalized. Criminalized, andmen have been marginalized. Criminalized, and
demonized.demonized.
 Welcome, celebrate, educate, train and fosterWelcome, celebrate, educate, train and foster
positive experiences and environments.positive experiences and environments.

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ENGAGEMENT SOLUTIONSENGAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
 Think outside the box- incentivise theirThink outside the box- incentivise their
participation( offer free haircuts, movieparticipation( offer free haircuts, movie
passes, sports tickets, etc.)passes, sports tickets, etc.)
 Listen –seek out locations men frequentListen –seek out locations men frequent
 Don’t reinvent the wheel- use currentDon’t reinvent the wheel- use current
resourcesresources
 Use Social MediaUse Social Media
 Recruit Champions and Leaders in theRecruit Champions and Leaders in the
business communitybusiness community

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SPONSORSSPONSORS
 Partnerships in Fitness LLC is a health and wellnessPartnerships in Fitness LLC is a health and wellness
consulting group dedicated to developing innovativeconsulting group dedicated to developing innovative
fitness and nutrition programsfitness and nutrition programs ,,Atlanta, GA ph: 678-Atlanta, GA ph: 678-
427-8831427-8831
 It is our goal to be the premier solar energy firm.It is our goal to be the premier solar energy firm.
Atlanta, Ga 800-943-0104Atlanta, Ga 800-943-0104

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GABRTEACH GABRWORKSGABRTEACH GABRWORKS
Diverse multi-level training, consultation, andDiverse multi-level training, consultation, and
advocacy organization focused on successfuladvocacy organization focused on successful
outcomes for adult learners, the communitiesoutcomes for adult learners, the communities
they live in as well as the businesses andthey live in as well as the businesses and
families they impact.families they impact.

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PublicationsPublications
Articles published by Texas Center for theArticles published by Texas Center for the
Advancement of Literacy and Learning:Advancement of Literacy and Learning:
www.tcall.tamu.eduwww.tcall.tamu.edu
 ““Fostering an Emotional Literacy Environment that impacts yourFostering an Emotional Literacy Environment that impacts your
staff and adult learners- Texas Quarterly- fall 2014staff and adult learners- Texas Quarterly- fall 2014
 ““Building and Sustaining Effective Father Engagement Pathways”Building and Sustaining Effective Father Engagement Pathways”
Texas Quarterly Summer 2014Texas Quarterly Summer 2014
 ““Workforce Development, Adult Learners, and Their Emotions”Workforce Development, Adult Learners, and Their Emotions”
Texas Quarterly Fall 2013Texas Quarterly Fall 2013
 ““Emotional Literacy: The Elephant in the room for Adult LearnersEmotional Literacy: The Elephant in the room for Adult Learners
and the Programs that serve them” Texas Quarterly Fall 2012and the Programs that serve them” Texas Quarterly Fall 2012

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Contact InformationContact Information
Anthony Gabriel DirectorAnthony Gabriel Director
GABRTEACH/GABWORKSGABRTEACH/GABWORKS
P.O. BOX 1664P.O. BOX 1664
JACKSON, LA 70748JACKSON, LA 70748
gabrteach3831@gmail.comgabrteach3831@gmail.com