Wilmington non-profit I Am the Village has been holding an annual weekend conference for its boys program Raising Kings since 2012.
But this year they’ve hosting a Week of Action – including a business competition, film screening and talk back, and street law sessions - all new this year.
Civil rights attorney Jeremy Collins is chair for the Raising Kings events. He helped facilitate the street law sessions – running through common scenarios young black men might face when confronted by law enforcement.
“We know there’s this crime epidemic that happens around the country and there’s a national narrative that says our young men and boys are going to end up in one of two places," Collins said. "And Raising King’s purpose is to reverse that narrative by showing the world and our young boys that there are two million places they can be.”
Sen. Chris Coons will speak during the Raising Kings conference Saturday at P.S. Dupont Middle School before breakout sessions begin.
Nine sessions run the gamut from fatherhood, money management, education, avoiding the criminal justice system and more.
The Week of Action continues Sunday and concludes Monday with an awards banquet honoring First State African American leaders contributing to the banquet’s title – Black History In the Making.