Thu, Aug 8 – 3:05-3:55 PM
College Track Sessions (for 2-year & 4-year college students)
- Becoming a Maestro: How identity, experiences, and opportunities shape those who have the courage to lead | WCP 3.116
- Boss up at College (Success Strategies) | WCP 2.302 Legislative Assembly Room
- Fellas, its Time to answer the call of Being a Leader. Are you ready? | WCP 2.120 | TENTATIVE
- Keeping Afloat through Scholarship Literacy | WCP 3.114 Executive Conference
- Navigating Educational Systems: Embracing the Charismatic Rascal Mindset | WCP 3.112B – Room Change
WCP 2.304 Black Box
College-Bound Track Sessions (for middle & high school students)
- From the Classroom to Career: Equipping Young Men with Academic and Professional Success Skills | WCP 1.106
Professionals
- Paying It Forward – SACMEN Student Mentee’s Becoming The Mentors | WCP 1.402 Auditorium
- The Yes Hell, a short film about how Black and Brown owned businesses received little funding from the CARES ACT during the COVID pandemic | WCP 1.118
Becoming a Maestro: How identity, experiences, and opportunities shape those who have the courage to lead | Thu, Aug 8 – 3:05PM – WCP 3.116 | Dr. Steve Przymus & Dr. Frank Hernandez | Texas Christian University
Pillars Addressed: College & Career Readiness, Identity
Currently Hispanic and Latino male teachers make up only 2% of all teachers in U.S. schools (Ekpe et al., under review). In some states, such as Texas, the gap between Hispanic and Latino students and teachers who look like them, share similar experiences, and understand similar bilingual language practices, is large; leaving the majority of students in many Texas school districts without the mirrors to see themselves in educational success, the windows to dream beyond their current realities, and the sliding glass doors to act upon and access these dreams and possibilities (Bishop, 1990). Results of a large, state-wide survey of more than 1,000 current Texas Hispanic (preferred ethnicity term of survey completers) male in-service teachers demonstrate that many share experiences and identity traits that have led to their continued success as educators. However, results also indicate that these maestros have experienced widely different pathways to becoming maestros. This research has informed a new program at Texas Christian University, called Maestro, that purposefully aims to recruit, support, prepare, and place more male teachers of color in Texas and U.S. schools. This session is organized in two parts: 1. Participants will engage in an interactive review of the survey data to learn from current Texas maestros and 2. participants will learn about the Maestro Program at TCU and the on-going initiatives to create community and support future maestros. The voices and perspectives of current Maestros (pre-service teacher candidates at TCU) will also be shared during the session. Return to Top
Boss up at College (Success Strategies) | Thu, Aug 8 – 3:05 PM – WCP 2.302 Legislative Assembly Room | Dr. Malik Crowder | The University of Texas at Austin
Pillars Addressed: Brotherhood, Leadership, College & Career Readiness
College students will develop new academic and professional goals in the session. Our workshop will model high achieving success habits in the college and university environment. We will use interactive teambuilders and goal setting to achieve our goal. A four year plan schedule and blueprint will be presented. Students should join if they want to lead organizations in a greater way on campus, study abroad, and participate in challenging internships and research with faculty and staff. Return to Top
Fellas, its Time to answer the call of Being a Leader. Are you ready? | Thu, Aug 8 – 3:05 PM – WCP 2.120 | Ricardo Zavala |Dove Springs Proud
Pillars Addressed: Brotherhood, Leadership, College & Career Readiness
Want to learn about becoming a leader on campus, in your career or in the community, join this session to learn skills and opportunities to enhance Brotherhood, Leadership and Career readiness. Society as a whole is looking for more men to step up to be leaders in multiple facets. Your skills and viewpoints are needed in the rooms when community issues, company outreach, college efforts are being brainstormed. Here you will learn to leverage your talents to address the community issues you care about, how to apply for a job, write a resume, and interview for a job you want. Learn about leadership opportunities open for men on your college campus. Your expertise is valued and we need you to step up! Return to Top
Keeping Afloat through Scholarship Literacy | Thu, Aug 8 – 3:05 PM – WCP 3.114 Executive Conference | Pillars Addressed: College & Career Readiness
Allen Brown-Zubillaga | The University of Texas at San Antonio
It’s estimated that close to $100 million in scholarships go unclaimed each year, and $2 billion in student grants go unclaimed. Typically, the money is not awarded due to a lack of applicants. Allen Brown-Zubillaga is a 2022 recipient of the prestigious national Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship and an honors senior sociology major at UTSA. To date, he has helped students earn nearly 2 million dollars in scholarships, grants, and fellowships in only the last 3 years. In this captivating presentation, you will learn the truth about finding, securing, and organizing funding opportunities that are available. Return to Top
Navigating Educational Systems: Embracing the Charismatic Rascal Mindset | Thu, Aug 8 – 3:05 PM – WCP 3.112B – Room Change WCP 2.304 Black Box | Saul Barrera | The University of Texas at Austin
Pillars Addressed: College & Career Readiness
This session will be an information session that will look at an alternative way of navigating educational systems. In this, the term “charismatic rascal” will be the opening term of a colloquial phrase for someone who navigates systems that can be oppressive, demeaning, or sometimes outright avoidant. Navigating with the “charismatic rascal “ concept and mindset will allow students to have methods in which they will feel validated and allow them to keep integrity when asking for resources, help, and opportunities when in college or career settings. In this students will also learn alternative methods in which they will learn professionalism while maintaining integrity in educational settings. Return to Top
College-Bound Track Sessions (for middle & high school students)
From the Classroom to Career: Equipping Young Men with Academic and Professional Success Skills | Thu, Aug 8 – 3:05 PM – WCP 1.106 | Dr. Alma Gonzalez de Castillo | Pflugerville ISD
Pillars Addressed: College & Career Readiness
Join us for an empowering workshop designed specifically for young men to excel academically and prepare for successful careers. Based on the latest research, this session focuses on equipping participants with the tools, skills, and abilities needed to thrive in both school and the workplace.
In this session, we will explore two critical learning outcomes. First, participants will delve into the importance of support systems in academic settings. Research shows that teacher support, individualized academic assistance, and positive student-teacher interactions significantly enhance academic performance. Participants will learn strategies to seek out and effectively utilize these supports, boosting their grades and overall school experience.
Second, the session will address the navigation of social and disciplinary expectations within the classroom. Understanding and responding positively to social signals and disciplinary standards are key to maintaining academic focus and fostering a respectful learning environment. Participants will develop skills to recognize these signals, enabling them to better align with academic and behavioral expectations. This understanding is not only crucial for academic success but also translates into valuable workplace skills.
Through interactive activities, group discussions, and real-life scenarios, attendees will gain practical insights and actionable strategies. By the end of the session, participants will be better prepared to achieve their academic goals and translate these achievements into professional success. Join us to build a strong foundation for your future, where academic excellence and career readiness go hand in hand. Return to Top
Professionals
Paying It Forward – SACMEN Student Mentee’s Becoming The Mentors | Thu, Aug 8 – 3:05 PM – WCP 1.402 Auditorium | Matthew Gomez, Gilbert Herrera, & Sergio Guerrero | San Antonio College
As former, and current students of San Antonio College mentorship has effectively guided our paths towards achieving academic success! The SACMEN program has partnered with Community In Schools, sharing our insight as products of mentorship for current SAISD middle school through Highschool students. We aspire to equip these students with the tools, and knowledge needed to navigate the path to college readiness. Join us as we share some challenges, overcoming obstacles, and our experience! Return to Top
The Yes Hell, a short film about how Black and Brown owned businesses received little funding from the CARES ACT during the COVID pandemic | Thu, Aug 8 – 3:05 PM – WCP 1.118 | Dr. Andres Orozco | Indio Media Group & Andrea Baltazar | Weber State University
A single father fights to keep his spoken word club, The Yes Hell, open during COVID. With the help of his social media-savvy son, they find creative ways to keep the doors open and form new bonds along the way.
Historically, Black and Brown businesses in the United States have faced discrimination and an inability to equitably access capital. In 2020, less than 20% of businesses in majority Black and Brown communities received money from the Cares Act, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Black-owned businesses shrunk by 41%, compared to White-owned businesses, which shrunk by 17% during the COVID pandemic. The short film “The Yes Hell” tackles these, and other issues of racial inequality within the financial sector. “The Yes Hell,” stands as a film rooted in the art of spoken word, a commentary on social media’s effect on family, and a story of human perseverance recounting the struggles of a single father and the bond he and his son form through difficult times. Return to Top