Junior and senior high school male students from public, private and parochial schools on St. Croix attended the 6th Annual Man-Up – Male Empowering Conference to be inspired to lead a successful and rewarding life. The conference themed, “ALL IN! Included, Involved and Inspired” was held on Thursday, April 6, 2016 at the University of the Virgin Islands Albert A. Sheen Campus grounds.
Guest speaker Albert Bryan, the former labor commissioner, encouraged students to be self-reliant and financially independent starting at an early age. He also urged them to choose their friends carefully. “Your friends determine your future,” he said during an inspiring keynote address. To bring greater understanding to his message, Mr. Bryan dished out two $50 bills to two attendees--one who found a written note under his chair and another who went on stage to share his future plans with the gathering.
Assistant Commissioner of Education Charmaine Hobson-Johnson told the male students, “You guys are the future. It is important, guys, that you know your worth. It is important that you pay attention to everything that is said today because unfortunately you do not realize your potential and that’s why education is so important,” she said. “We have such dynamic teachers sitting here today because our job is to get you to man-up. Our job is to let you know your promises and your dreams can be realized.”
St. Croix Superintendent of Schools Colleen Williams, and deputy superintendents Vaughn Hewitt and Faith Dane George were also in attendance.
The Man-Up – Male Empowerment Conference is sponsored by the Virgin Islands Department of Education and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), and is conducted by Brothers with a Cause, an affiliate of UVI.