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Garner, the chief diversity officer at New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, was one of two keynote speakers during the third annual daylong event held in The Centre at Halifax Community College with the theme of “Cultivating a Passion for Success:From Dreams to Reality.” The luncheon speaker was the Rev. Dr. Staccato Powell, pastor of Grace AME Zion Church in Raleigh.
Students from area middle schools, high schools and community colleges attended the events along with community members.
Garner asked those present what was their vision and self-image.
“In order to make it from point A to point Z, you must have vision,” he said.
Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball as a sophmore, Garner said.
Jordan went to help his college team win the national basketball championship and help the Chicago Bulls win six NBA championships. Currently, Jordan is the only black owner of a national basketball team.
“Michael Jordan didn’t let anyone dictate if he was going to make it or not,” Garner said. “Education and good grades are vital.”
The purpose of the summit was to provide an unique opportunity for males of all ages to address the problems having an adverse affect on them such as workforce issues, economic development, network and having a voice in the community.
In addition to the keynote speakers,a floating discussion/networking session allowed students to talk with invited guests. Breakout sessions were geared to middle school and other students. Those sessions were led by the Rev. Travis Judkins, senior pastor of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Windsor, and Christopher Martin, known as “Play” from the rap duo Kid and Play and artist in residence at North Carolina Central University .
During the floating discussion, the Rev. Roy Gray encouraged a group of students from KIPP Pride High School to always read road signs.
“When you don’t read the road signs, you get lost,” Gray said. “You’ve got to read the signs. This is how you have to live your life.”
Gray also told them they need to give themselves a pep talk every morning before they walk out of their house.
“Before the players for Carolina and Duke go on the court, they have a talk from the coach. The best way to get beat is to get caught being down.”
Gray said it was his first time attending the summit but he had been working with teens all of his life. He has four sons and two daughters.
“Our house has always been the community place,” he said. “I gain energy being around young folks.”
Gray admitted not enough events like the summit are being done.
“It provides older people, like myself, an opportunity to get to know what young people’s issues are,” he said. “It’s our responsibility to produce a product that will take our place.”
It was the first time James H. Pierce attending the summit.
Pierce, a Halifax County Commissioner, thought the event was great.
“We should have more events like this,” he said. “We seldom get a gathering of black males together to network and talk to each other.
During the breakout session, “From Boy to Male to Man”, Martin shared stories about his life and experience to encourage students to stay in school and make the most out of their opportunities in life.
He said he believed in being transparent. “I could come and say ‘stay in school’ all day but there is an opportunity to be effective,” Martin said. “All of you students here look at the people here. The reason we are here is so you can do better than us.”
He noted many in the room wanted to be in entertainment, professional athletes or other professions and gave them a key piece of advice in helping to achieve that goal.
“When you meet the person doing what you want to be doing, the best investment is not take the money you have and buy sneakers or a gold chain but invite that person to lunch, dinner or breakfast,” Martin said.
And when you get that meeting, he added, sit down and listen to how they became successful.
“The best investment is called research,” he said. “Sneakers get old and gold chains change colors. It’s not what you know but who you know.”
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