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Rodney Patterson, coordinator of multicultural development at Michigan State University and founder and pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in East Lansing, Mich., will be among the featured speakers at Lafayette Collegeís second Summit on Manhood, April 14-16.
The summit is sponsored by the Brothers of Lafayette, an organization of black students promoting unity through campus and community activities. Landon J. Adams, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, is event chairperson. Bell Atlantic is providing support, as are Black Diamond & John Robinson; Lorenzo Crowe, Esq.; The Updegrove Family Foundation; and Twin Rivers Bank.
Patterson, who is also Michigan Stateís assistant vice president for student affairs and services, will speak on the theme of this yearís conference, “Setting Things In Order,” at a closing banquet, 6 p.m. Saturday, April 15, in the Marlo Room, Farinon College Center.
An opening ceremony, at 8 p.m. Friday, April 14, in the auditorium of Kirby Hall of Civil Rights, will feature Derrick Slack, a spoken-word artist from Indianapolis, Ind. Andre Ward, executive director for the Midwest Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., will deliver a keynote talk on “The Essence of Black Men.” Alpha Phi Alpha, founded in 1906 at Cornell University, is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans.
Saturdayís program will begin at 8 a.m. with registration, check-in, and continental breakfast in the common room of Keefe Hall. Workshops on leadership, business, and male development will start at 9 a.m. In the afternoon, following a barbecue lunch on the Quad catered by Easton's Sugar Daddy's restaurant, there will be concurrent workshops, one for men and one for women, followed by a session for all attendees.
On Sunday, April 16, summit participants are invited to worship together at Shiloh Baptist Church in Easton.
Registration fees are $5 for students (high school juniors and up) and $10 for adults. The talks by Rodney Patterson and Andre Ward are free and open to the public. Individuals may attend the banquet without registering for the conference, but must RSVP to Landon Adams. For more information contact Adams at adamsl@lafayette.edu or (610) 330-3137.