Featured image: Black male high school students from Going Global with Barbara’s April 2023 International Youth Leadership Program
DID YOU KNOW?
Studies show that of all students who participate in study abroad programs, fewer than 6% identify as Black.
Of that 6%, a disproportionately low number are male.
Despite the overwhelming data that shows the benefits of participation in international programs for personal, academic and professional success, the low participation numbers of Black male youth has remained largely unchanged over the last two decades.
On March 27, 2024, WIF and Going Global with Barbara (an educational travel company in Bowie, MD) hosted a free online panel discussion to explore the reasons why.
Our main objective was to identify the barriers faced by Black youth in accessing international travel and study abroad opportunities. We discussed ways in which organizations and educational institutions can work together to increase the participation of Black youth in these impactful experiences.
The conversation generated was so poignant and powerful that we decided to extend the discussion to a series of three online events.
Find the details of
Panel 1 (Black male high school students),
Panel 2 (Black male college students), and
Panel 3 (overseas career opportunities)
in reverse chronological order below.
THIRD PANEL DISCUSSION
SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
Sponsorship by VIVO360 supported this spirited conversation about the wide variety of overseas career opportunities for Black male youth who may not wish to / cannot afford to pursue a traditional four-year college degree.
Click HERE to watch a recap of the discussion.
To watch the entire event, click on the image below.
Anthony Fleet – United Airlines Hub Communications Director at Newark International Airport and WIF board member – returned to moderate this discussion.
Click on the image below to watch him talk about why he believes international travel and study abroad are important for Black male youth.
Anthony Fleet
Our three panelists:
JeRayle Franklin, Corporate and executive recruitment professional,
Jarahn Hillsman, U.S. diplomat, and
Dr. Nolton Pattio, equine veterinary surgeon and Official Veterinarian for Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA
shared a wide range of perspectives and experiences during the discussion.
JeRayle Franklin
Jarahn Hillsman
Dr. Nolton Pattio
SECOND PANEL DISCUSSION
June 5, 2024
WIF Board Vice Chair and Treasurer Nicole Matusinec supported this event through her consulting firm, Positive Lee.
Our topic was the Black male college student and the various ways that colleges and universities as well as independent educational travel organizations can 1) encourage Black male youth to travel and 2) support them in this endeavor.
Click HERE to watch a recap of the discussion.
To watch the entire event, click on the image below.
MODERATING THE DISCUSSION was:
Anthony Fleet – United Airlines Hub Communications Director at Newark International Airport and WIF board member.
Click on the image below to watch him talk about why he believes international travel and study abroad are important for Black male youth.
Anthony Fleet
Each of OUR THREE PANELISTS presented our topic from a different vantage point.
Click on their names to watch them talk about why they believe international travel and study abroad are so important for Black male youth in the U.S.
Spencer Hooker – Graduate student in Global Communications, American University of Paris; Paris, France
Marcus King – Director of Study Abroad, Prairie View A&M University; Prairie View, TX, USA
Markus Sherman – Senior Manager Program Development, EF Education First; Boston, MA, USA
Spencer Hooker
Marcus King
Markus Sherman
FIRST PANEL DISCUSSION
March 27, 2024
With the sponsorship support of Janaye Ingram – The Ingram Family Fund, this event brought together Black male teens and their parents, leaders of organizations that support Black male youth, travel professionals, and representatives from various institutes of higher learning and educational travel organizations.
Our topic was the Black male high school student and the reasons their parents or guardians might be reluctant to encourage them to travel abroad. Moderators, panelists, and attendees engaged in thoughtful dialogue and shared valuable insights throughout the event.
Click HERE to watch a recap of the discussion.
To watch the entire event, click on the image below.
MODERATING THE DISCUSSION were:
Anthony Fleet – United Airlines Hub Communications Director at Newark International Airport
and
Erick Prince – Minority Nomad; Travel journalist, photographer, blogger, and global citizen
Click on the images below to watch them talk about why they believe international travel and study abroad are important for Black male youth.
Anthony Fleet
Erick Prince
OUR FIVE PANELISTS were Black males who recently graduated from or are currently enrolled in institutes of higher learning in the U.S. and Paris, France.
Click on their names to watch them talk about why they believe international travel and study abroad are so important for Black male youth in the U.S.
Miles Browman – American Business School graduate (Paris, France), Communications, Marketing, and Sales Associate; Berlin, Germany
Zwa Inyoni – Junior at American University of Paris: International Comparative Politics major, MVP Basketball; Paris, France
Elias Miller – Boston University graduate, Associate Producer, Meet the Press at NBC News; Washington, D.C., USA
Emmanuel Neal – 3rd-year student at Culinary Institute of America: Applied Food Studies with a concentration in the Culinary Arts; Hyde Park, NY, USA
Adebola Oshipitan – Amherst College graduate, Thomas J. Watson Fellow; Chicago, IL, USA
Miles Browman
Zwa Inyoni
Elias Miller
Emmanuel Neal
Adebola Oshipitan
