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MAN-UP to Stage ‘Real Men Talking’

Ex-NFL Defensive Back Donovin Darius speaking at the 2011MAN-UP Conference on St. Croix.The University of the Virgin Islands and local government agencies host the second annual MAN-UP Male Empowerment Conference in both districts this week, hoping to help young V.I. men who are trying to get back on the academic track.

This year will feature a performance of the nationally acclaimed interactive stage play, “Real Men Talking,” which addresses many of the stereotypes and realities facing young men. Directed by Flemuel “Fleetwood” Brown III, the play depicts five African American men talking about accountability, sex, relationships, self-esteem, incarceration, the streets, insecurities, fatherhood, mentoring, history and other pressing issues facing young men.

“Real Men Talking” includes video vignettes by historian, author and pundit Cornel West; musicians Common, Chuck D and Anthony Hamilton; author Michael Eric Dyson; among others. The collaboration comes together to ask the essential question, “What does it mean to be a ‘Real Man’?”

After the play, a question and answer session will provide the opportunity for audience members to interact with the cast.

New this year are workshops for community leaders, mentors and parents of males, which offer follow-up curriculum to the play.

Pastor George Phillips of the St. Thomas Assembly of God Church will deliver a spiritual message and engage conference attendees.

This year’s conference theme is “MAN-UP: Realize your Potential – Celebrating Responsible Manhood.”

In 2011, more than 3,000 young men from throughout the territory participated.

The MAN-UP Male Empowerment Conference is an initiative of Brothers with a Cause, a UVI program that seeks to attract more male students to the university and to provide the tools and support to help them graduate.

Conference schedule as follows:

St. Croix
Tuesday, Feb. 7, under the big white tent on UVI’s Albert A. Sheen campus.
– 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – for junior high and high school males;
– 5 to 9:30 p.m. – for adult males, parents of male children and the interested general public.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Great Hall.
– 9:30 a.m. to noon – for community leaders, mentors and parents of males.

St. Thomas
Thursday, Feb. 9, in the UVI Sports and Fitness Center.
– 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – for junior high and high school males;
– 5 to 9:30 p.m. – for adult males, parents of male children and the interested general public;

Friday, Feb. 10, Administration and Conference Center, 1st floor conference room.
– 9:30 a.m. to noon – for community leaders, mentors and parents of males.

Pre-register online at the UVI website, www.uvi.edu. Telephone inquiries and to register by phone call the UVI Office of the President at 693-1000.

All junior high and high school students must have signed parental permission slips and be in uniform in order to participate. No bandanas or backpacks will be allowed. Lunch will be provided for registered school participants. Food will also be available for purchase.

Parking in the UVI Sports and Fitness Center parking lot on St. Thomas will be restricted Feb. 9. A shuttle bus will operate between overflow parking at the Reichhold Center for the Arts and the Sports and Fitness Center.

For more information about the Male Empowerment Conference, please contact Haldane Davies, special assistant to UVI President David Hall, at 693-1004.

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