{"id":212619,"date":"2023-03-15T09:39:41","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T13:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/?p=212619"},"modified":"2023-03-15T15:45:02","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T19:45:02","slug":"montclair-alumni-front-and-center-at-male-education-and-graduation-alliance-mega-symposium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/2023\/03\/15\/montclair-alumni-front-and-center-at-male-education-and-graduation-alliance-mega-symposium\/","title":{"rendered":"Montclair Alumni Front and Center at Male Education and Graduation Alliance (MEGA) Symposium"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Friday, March 3, more than 200 scholars and professionals gathered on campus for the inaugural Male Enrollment and Graduation Alliance (MEGA) Symposium. MEGA is a nationwide initiative to improve educational outcomes for Black and Latinx males attending and completing college. The Symposium was co-led by Daniel Jean \u201900 MA, assistant provost for Special Programs, EOF and Academic Success, and Carolina Gonzalez, assistant dean for Administrative, External and Student affairs in the College of Education and Human Services.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cToday was a vision realized for the University,\u201d Jean said at the end of the event.\u00a0 \u201cWe are positioning ourselves to be the national leader for Black and Latinx male success at all levels, and we are very excited about the partnerships that were born today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gonzalez agreed: \u201cToday was an amazing, energizing and inspiring experience. This was an opportunity to gather in a community and have action-oriented conversations centered around issues that matter to all of us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The symposium consisted of two tracks: one for youth-serving professionals and community members, and the other for high school students. Honored at the event were two Montclair alumni: Dr. Gemar Mills \u201905 and Gian Paul Gonzalez \u201907, with many more former Red Hawks serving as presenters and participants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mills, who serves as chief academic officer and executive director at College Achieve Public Schools in Paterson, was honored for his career in education, including his notable achievement of turning around Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark. The school was being considered for closure after having had four principals in four years. Previously a math teacher and department chair, Mills spent one stellar year as vice principal when, at the age of 27, he was tapped to lead the failing school. He started the day with words of inspiration for the students and held an assembly each time a scholar-athlete won a college scholarship to demonstrate that hard work pays off. Having grown up in the Christopher Columbus projects in Paterson, he was a natural role-model to countless young men attending the school, and continues this work in his current role at College Achieve Public Schools in Paterson. CAPS offers an innovative vision for public schools and was created for youth who have enormous potential but limited resources.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mills commented, \u201cthe event was timely; we need to get young people of color into the pipeline \u2013 graduated and employed. It also was sentimental for me as a graduate of 糖心vlog. I got an opportunity as an eighth grade student to stay on campus in Stone Hall and take classes; it helped me to feel I belonged\u2026 We need programs like this.”<\/p>\n

\"Gemar
Dr. Gemar Mills \u201905, chief academic officer and executive director at College Achieve Public Schools, accepts his award.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n


\nAlso honored was Gian Paul Gonzalez \u201907, whose famous \u201cAll In\u201d speech motivated the New York Giants to turn their season around and win the 2012 NFL Super Bowl. As a motivational speaker, he has traveled across the nation inspiring the NBA\u2019s Portland Trail Blazers, the Army\u00a0<\/span>Cadets at West Point, the United States Air Force, as well as audiences at many other corporate, athletic, government agencies, and educational institutions. He has been featured on ESPN, Fox News, ABC, CNN and more. Gonzalez is the founder of Hope + Future, an afterschool health and wellness program in Union City designed to give students hope in their academic, social and economic future. He has worked with youth in detention facilities, bringing in college athletes to play basketball with the young men there. As a student at Montclair, Gonzalez was an NCAA First Team All-American forward. He was offered a few professional basketball contracts; however, he turned them down to continue his work with at-risk youth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Step
Left to right: Daniel Jean \u201900 MA, assistant provost for Special Programs, EOF and Academic Success; Gian Paul Gonzalez \u201907, executive director, Hope + Future; Dr. Leslie Wilson, associate dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences; and Carolina Gonzalez, assistant dean for Administrative, External and Student Affairs in the College of Education and Human Services<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A number of Montclair alumni shared their experience and vision, presenting on topics from mentoring, to manifesting your dreams, to the first-generation professional experience and more. Speakers included:<\/span><\/p>\n