Mothers On a Mission: Raising a Young Black Man in America

Posted by Black Male Development Symposium on October 19, 2015

Arcadia University will play host to a powerful panel discussion that will be lead by three dynamic women . ‘Mothers On a Mission: Raising a Young Black Man in America’ is coming to the Glenside, PA campus on Saturday October 24, 2015.

The discussion will be moderated by Patty Jackson of WDAS-FM (105.3) and lead by Cheryl ‘Coko’ Clemons, Aja Graydon Dantzler, and Ursula Rucker along with their pre-teen and young adult sons. The panel, which will begin at 2:30 P.M., will touch on a myriad of topics including education, police brutality, violence and mental health.
Coko Clemons is one third of the iconic R&B singing group SWV. Recently she and her band mates Taj George and Leleee Lyons were nominated for a Grammy for a re-make of the Patti LaBelle classic, ‘If Only You Knew’. Clemons lives in Virginia Beach with her husband Mike and 12-year-old son Jalen who will participate in the panel discussion as well.

Aja Dantzler is a one half of the R&B group Kindred the Family Soul with her husband Fatin. The mother of six maintains a high profile as a traveling singer while also finding the time to wear her activist hat. She is passionate about a number of topics with quality public education being at the top of her list. Dantzler will be joined by her son 16-year-old son Aquil who is a sophomore at Boys Latin Charter High School.

Philadelphia native Ursula Rucker is a world renowned poet, recording artist and activist who continues to use her voice to shine light on the topics that will be discussed. The creative force is a mother of three boys, of which 20-year-old Sudan will be onstage alongside her.

The afternoon event will be kicked off by a heartwarming musical tribute to mothers by Philadelphia singers Tanqueray Hayward and Julian King.

The groundbreaking event is being put on by the Black Male Development Symposium, Arcadia’s Pan African Studies Program and Mister Mann Frisby, author and former Philadelphia Daily News reporter.

More than 300 attendees are expected for the interactive panel discussion which is to be held in the Commons Great Room on campus. Tickets for the VIP luncheon, 12- 2 P.M., and general admission tickets can be purchased at the following link: http://momsraisingblackboys.org/ .