Leadership and Brotherhood Summit aims to inspire hundreds of young men of color

MILWAUKEE -- (CBS 58) The inaugural Leadership and Brotherhood Summit took place at Marquette University Thursday aiming to inspire hundreds of young men of color in our community. 

The summit is a collaboration between Milwaukee Public schools and Marquette and it's geared towards building a support community among young high school men of color.

Roughly 250 students participated in the event which included guest speakers and breakout sessions focusing on everything from leadership skills and culture identity and preparing for college.

Organizers said they hope the event helps the students work through issues they see throughout their community

"Whether it's the violence, negative narratives about themselves - how can they recreate that, how can they re-imagine themselves and see themselves different(ly) even in the media but among themselves as well," said Lanelle Ramey, Director of the Department of Black and Latino Achievement for Milwaukee Public Schools. 

Among the guest speakers was Milwaukee Common Council  President Ashanti Hamilton. He said he can relate to these students. He’s a graduate of Riverside and also went to Marquette. He said he's hoping to pass along that positive message to these students.

"I'm hoping to be the type of person who can inspire them and I think that that's really what we need right now in our city, is some inspiration," Hamilton said. "The ability to see past what the conditions are right now for something that they aspire to. Bringing them here, being able to stand in front of them and let them know that I walked in their shoes, I had their struggles, I had to overcome their obstacles and that over on the other side of that over on the other side of that can be a huge measure of success way beyond where I am now."

Organizers hope to grow the event and add more students in years to come.