In order to share information and methods for helping boys live their best lives, The Boys Initiative (TBI) teamed up with Dr. Michael Gurian and the Gurian Institute to host a virtual Helping Boys Thrive Virtual Summit™. Attended by over 150 people, including lawmakers, teachers, parents, and others with a deep interest in boys’ well-being, speakers at the day-long included Dr. Michael Gurian, Marion Hill, Dr. Warren Farrell, and many others.
The event was hosted by Dr. Vermelle D. Greene, former Executive Director of The Boys Initiative. Dr. Greene has been an educator for over 48 years with experience as a schoolteacher and administrator. She and TBI have focused on the mission to raise awareness and find solutions to the issues affecting boys and young men in school and in life. Working with The Gurian Institute in putting on the summit, TBI brought together national leading experts to explore the issues and trends affecting the well-being and success of boys.
The struggles of boys and men are well documented. In 2018, Dr. Warren Farrell and John Gray authored the bestseller The Boy Crisis: Why Our Boys are Struggling and What Can We Do About It? which shined the spotlight on the issues boys continue to face. Major newspapers have recently published articles on the absence of males on college campuses: from the Atlantic’s “Colleges Have A Guy Problem” to the Wall Street Journal’s “A Generation of American Men Give Up on College: ‘I Just Feel Lost’”.
Program Highlights
WATCH HIGHLIGHT VIDEO #1: Keynotes and Panel Highlights
The summit featured two keynote speakers: Dr. Michael Gurian: family therapist, corporate consultant, lecturer and the New York Times bestselling author of 25 books; and Marion Hill, founder of M.A.N.C.A.V.E. (Men All Need to be Caring Actively-Engaged, and Encouraged). Leading educators, authors, and organization heads will be hosting a panel discussion and several break-out sessions focused on solutions to the issues and trends affecting the success of boys and young men.
Panel Discussion: Dr. David Geary, Laurie A. Couture, Dr. Tom Mortensen, Robert Matheiu
WATCH HIGHLIGHT VIDEO #2: Breakout Session Highlights
Breakout sessions:
- Dr. Warren Farrell: “Why The Boy Crises Resides Where Dads Don’t Reside”
- Educators William Draves and Julie Coates: “Smart Boys, Bad Grades”
- Jennifer Fink: “Raising Great Guys In A World That Misunderstands Males”
- Mark J. Perry, PH.D: “Challenging Systemic Sexism in K-12 Schools and on College Campuses to Help Our Boys and Young Men”
- Ray Nelson: “Do You Speak Boy?”
- Renee Griffith: “The Art of Teaching Boys”
The Boys Initiative is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt, nonprofit educational organization. The mission of The Boys Initiative is to inform the public and recruit advocates who will actively help us implement solutions to the issues and trends affecting the well-being and success of boys and young men in our nation and around the world.