UB’s Educational Opportunity Center will hold its annual Men’s Conference from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 29 at the UBEOC campus at 555 Ellicott St., Buffalo.

Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m.

This free event aims to bring together the men of our community to engage in a global conversation and address the event’s theme: “Men Leading by Example.” The conference will feature expert panelists from the educational, mental health, parenting, mentoring, judicial and faith community who will talk about how men can take a more active leadership role in their families and with the young men they are mentoring.

Panelists will also identify the clinical mental health challenges that impact men and prevent them from functioning fully as leaders in different aspects of their lives.

“The conference will take a hard look at the role that men of our community play in leading their families, mentoring young men and the impact that violent injury and trauma have on our young men and the rest of our community,” says Frank S. Williams, director of student support services at the UBEOC and co-chair of the Men’s Conference Committee.  

The event will open with plenary speaker Karl Shallowhorn, education coordinator, Community Health Center of Buffalo. Featured panelists include Antoine Johnson, fatherhood coordinator, Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network Inc.; Larry Donalson, pastor at Greater Works Christian Fellowship; Christopher St. Vil, assistant professor, UB School of Social Work; and Darren Brown, chief of staff, Buffalo Public Schools.

At the lunch hour, event attendees will be addressed by Craig Hannah, chief judge with Buffalo City Court.

“Attendees are sure to be challenged into examining and understanding what their leadership presence can do to impact those within and beyond their sphere of influence,” Williams says.

The conference welcomes community advocates, service providers, professionals and all men from the Western New York community to discuss and share their ideas and concerns regarding the leadership role of men in our community.

This conference is free and open to the public; lunch will be provided.

To register for the Men’s Conference, click on the “Register for Events” icon on the UBEOC website. For more information, contact the UBEOC at (716) 645-1942.