Dozens of young black men streamed into Lou Rawls Center For The Performing Arts at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens.
They came from all over Miami-Dade County to participate in the Victorious Boys Summit.
The three-day event highlights issues that affect black men, like absent fathers and crime. The nightly workshops include keynote speakers and breakout sessions for intimate conversations with the young men and mentors.
On Tuesday night, the topic was the racial disparities in the criminal justice system and how it impacts young black men like the ones participating in the summit.
Minister Edward Keyton told the young men they are the demographic most likely to be locked up nationwide.
Keyton, who has six sons, shared his personal story. He said of his six sons all but one has had some type of interaction with the criminal justice system.
He told the young men in the audience their best chance of avoiding jail and criminal activities is a solid education.
“Sixty-eight percent of all males in state and federal prison do not have a high school degree,” he said. “You’ve got to know something.”
Javon Robinson, 17, attended the session on the criminal justice system and black men.
“A lot of black young men are getting arrested everyday. It’s a reality,” he said.
He says he learned about how black men are more likely to serve longer sentences for minor offense and make up a significant portion of the prison population.
The summit he says will educate young men like himself on the system and how to stay out of it.
If You Go:
Victorious Boys Summit,vbsmiami.com
6 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, Florida Memorial University's Lou Rawls Center For the Performing Arts, 15800 NW 42 Ave.