But on Friday, the focus wasn’t on the numbers but on the best ways to fix them.
Groups from across the community, as well as three key leaders from New York and Chicago, gathered at the Conference on Black Male Achievement.
The event, which continues today at Goodwill Industries, 4805 N. 72nd St., is presented by Black Men United, Nebraska Families Collaborative, 100 Black Men of Omaha, Banister Leadership Academy and Goodwill.
“I want to talk about best practices, what’s working locally and nationally, and then tie them together,” said Willie Hamilton, executive director of Black Men United. “How do we change the trajectory of our black boys and men?”
That solution, he said, will mean coming together, putting aside differences and coming up with a strategic plan to change that trajectory.
“When black boys achieve, the city achieves, literally,” Hamilton said.
A number of efforts already are coming together. President Obama earlier this month announced an initiative called “My Brother’s Keeper” to bring foundations and companies together to test strategies to keep young blacks in school and out of the criminal justice system.
Currently, eleven cities, including Omaha, are working on comprehensive plans to address black male achievement, said Willie Barney, president of the Empowerment Network. The effort came after the National League of Cities hosted its own Black Male Achievement Conference.
“We’re looking at who’s doing what, so we can work together,” Barney said.