Higher education remains a viable Route to Change the Status Quo. Whether the student’s reality is hindered by personal struggle, economic hardship, or institutional barriers, our focus is to redirect ourselves and our students toward an individual path that can transform our collective vision of student success. This year’s summit challenges us to examine the academic, socio-economic, political and personal factors impacting African American and Latino males. Issues of equity, access and opportunity present obstacles for colleges, universities and community advocates as we directly influence the lives of students. Many of these negative factors are universal; yet we cannot deny the distressing reality and detrimental effect on communities across the nation. Only 33% of African American males and 41% of Latino males who enter high school earn a high school diploma. Across the nation 40% of African American males and 43% of Latino males who enter college earn degrees. Despite the adversity students face they dare to dream and aspire. At this year’s conference we have the opportunity to listen to our students’ reality as they speak about their identity as young men of color, their need for individualism, their challenges in relationships, and above all their desire to compete academically in spite of the odds.
