The University of West Florida will host the Men of Color Retreat and Conference September 20 and 21 in the University Commons Conference Center. While this event is specific and intentional in the mission to address issues that men of color encounter during their experiences in higher education, ALL persons are invited. This event is open to all students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members interested in creating a healthy and open environment for all persons to be successful.

2013 UWF Men of Color Retreat (PDF)

Event Information

Friday and Saturday, September 20 and 21, 2013
University of West Florida Commons Conference Center (Building 22)
The event is open to all interested students, staff, faculty, administrators, and community members regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, faith/religion/belief system, ability/disability, sexual orientation/identity, nationality, socioeconomic class, education level, etc.

UWF Men of Color Retreat Hotel Partner

We have partnered with Marriott International to provide a Men of Color Retreat and Conference Rate. Guests will be able to select either King/Double Rooms. The rate per night is $105.00. You can click UWF Men of Color Retreat Hotel Partner to reserve your room and if you have any questions, the direct number to the property is 850-857-7744.

Event Mission

The mission of the Men of Color Retreat and Conference is to create a culturally-aware and resource-attentive network to address the challenges of recognizing and including cultural awareness in higher education and to provide effective strategies for men of color and those who interact with them to achieve success in life.

Event Vision

To provide an open opportunity for creating and presenting solutions and ideas for participants to be catalysts for social change and equality in every facet of life.

Tagline for 2013- "..Do Something....be a mentor.."
         

Event Goal

The MOCC is an annual event with the explicit purpose of convening members from diverse communities, disciplines, and interests to the campus of the University of West Florida to contribute, discover, and foster positive outcomes for men of color directly, while indirectly providing support, networking opportunities, and didactic trainings to students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents, and other members of the community.

Event Themes and Objectives

Theme 1:
Recognize the existing crisis within the American education system for minority males by mainstream society and leaders.

Objective:
Identify and examine the factors that contribute to the crisis involving minority males within the American education system.

Theme 2:
Recognize the destructive pressures that undermine minority male aspirations and expectations for academic success.

Objective:
Identify and operationalize the destructive pressures that undermine minority male aspirations and expectations for academic success.

Theme 3:
Address the lack of role models that lead males to seek role models and respect outside of educational institutions.

Objective:
Create and promote healthy and positive role models for minority males. 

Theme 4:
Explore and present the cultural and historic memory that is important to minority male pride.

Objective:
Reclaim and restore the rich and positive cultural and historic memory that is important to minority male pride.

Theme 5:
Investigate the challenges of poverty, community problems, and language which are barriers to college access and success.

Objective:
Create pathways to overcome the challenges of poverty, community problems, and language which are barriers to college access and success.

Theme 6
Identify the obstacles that occur in schools and colleges that are failing young minority men.

Objective:
Identify and provide action plans to address the obstacles that occur in schools and colleges that are failing young minority men.

Theme 7
There is a need for collaboration between society (government, business, educational institutions, etc.) and diverse communities to work together to make positive change a reality.

Objective:
Create an action plan to foster interdependent and reciprocal relationships between society (government, business, educational institutions, etc.) and communities to work together to make positive change a reality.