{"id":14726,"date":"2026-02-02T14:03:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T19:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=14726"},"modified":"2026-02-03T09:07:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:07:26","slug":"the-18th-annual-african-american-male-summit-empowers-student-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/the-18th-annual-african-american-male-summit-empowers-student-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"The 18th annual African American Male Summit empowers student leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Elisha \u201cCadillac\u201d Harris was the keynote speaker at the Jan. 24 African American Male Summit at Green Run High School. From left, Harris, Green Run High principal Tennille Bowser and Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Cindy Butler Focke<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Green Run High band helped kickoff the 18th annual African American Male Summitt Jan. 24.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Elisha \u201cCadillac\u201d Harris, the school\u2019s former educator and football coach who retired in 2021, gave the keynote speech for the African American Male Summit at Green Run High School on Jan. 24.<\/p>\n

The 18th<\/sup> annual event was organized by the VBCPS Office for Opportunity and Achievement.<\/p>\n

Throughout his presentation, Harris asked the group of about 400 middle and high school students to recite the summit\u2019s theme honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe time is always right to do what is right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harris shared advice his parents gave him before he walked into an integrated fifth grade classroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cExpect some challenges,\u201d they said. Remember to \u201ctreat other people the way you want to be treated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doors will open for you today, he told attendees.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmbrace the opportunities and do what\u2019s right for you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Students dispersed to workshops on topics including mental health, resume building and career readiness. They also visited the gym to learn about careers, post-high school education, school and city resources, mentorship programs and more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Marcus Turner, left, and Bryce Mitchell, members of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, led a session titled \u201cStay Sharp, Stay Solid\u201d at the African American Male Summit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Phi Beta Sigma fraternity members, including assistant principals Marcus Turner from Cox High and Bryce Mitchell of Churchland High in Portsmouth, volunteered at the event.<\/p>\n

The mentors led sessions on values and leadership titled, \u201cStay Sharp, Stay Solid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students were asked what they\u2019d do in certain scenarios. For example, how would they react if a video of a fight was shared on an online group chat? Do you repost the video, send to others, comment, stay silent, delete?<\/p>\n

Green Run Collegiate junior Kingston Privott said actions have consequences. \u00a0Discussions ensued about doing the right thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep everyone safe,\u201d Turner said. \u201cBe a leader and do not share negativity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Salem High assistant principal Dr. Corey B\u00e1cs and former VBCPS administrator Tim Pellerin\u2019s session, \u201cThe Playbook,\u201d highlighted interview and interpersonal skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cPresent your best self,\u201d B\u00e1cs said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst impressions are crucial,\u201d Pellerin emphasized. \u201cYou never know who you are going to meet.\u201d He shared how a chance meeting in a grocery store ultimately led him to play in the NFL.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kempsville High Entrepreneurial and Business Academy junior Quasim Floyd, left, and Ethan Lacey, a Landstown High sophomore shook hands before introducing themselves to each other during a workshop focused on preparing for interviews and making good first impressions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Students prepared a concise \u201cpitch\u201d for themselves, describing their attributes and goals, and shared with the group.<\/p>\n

They discussed the importance of projecting confidence, making eye contact, dressing for success, post-interview follow-up and more.<\/p>\n

Approximately 50 registered for parent sessions, which focused on available mental health services, VBCPS resources and Advanced Technology Center programs.<\/p>\n

Anthony Joseph\u2019s son is in the seventh grade at Old Donation School.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe seminars and school counselors have helped me understand so much,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He also has grown children and said so much has changed since they were in school, especially because of social media.<\/p>\n

Tallwood High counselor Marcus Rinehardt said the summit provided space for students with a commonality to come together to converse and share experiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of this subject matter we don\u2019t get to discuss in the classroom,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Juniors Quasin Floyd of The Entrepreneurial and Business Academy at Kempsville High School and Sean-Carter Mack from Green Run High have both attended three summits.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve made more connections and learned from others,\u201d Sean-Carter said. His takeaway: \u201cBelieve in yourself and don\u2019t let people bring you down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quasin joined the Kappa League, thanks to a summit. He said the leadership initiative fosters brotherhood and personal development.<\/p>\n

The summits have provided the opportunity to network and meet new people, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time I leave, it\u2019s with lessons learned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dr. Zachary Horace participated in the African American Male Summit as an exhibitor. He spoke with Ocean Lakes High students Brayden Allen and Damien Dugger, right, about the benefits of pursuing a career in dentistry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
African American Male Summit attendees participated in a community service activity, which included making greeting cards and hero masks for Operation Smile patients.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
African American Male Summit attendees participated in a community service activity, which included making greeting cards and hero masks for Operation Smile patients.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Members of the Greater Men Foundation, who mentor young men ages 10 to 17, participated in the African American Male Summit Jan. 24 at Green Run High.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Career coach Alisia Woody with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, talked with Princess Anne Middle student Trey Griffith about the emerging workforce program during the African American Male Summit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Green Run High band helped kickoff the 18th annual African American Male Summitt Jan. 24.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Cindy Butler Focke Elisha \u201cCadillac\u201d Harris, the school\u2019s former educator and football coach who retired in 2021, gave the keynote speech for the African American Male Summit at Green […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":14730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-connections","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14726"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14746,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14726\/revisions\/14746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}