This program offers professional learning or social networking opportunities each month of the academic year for Black men in educational and youth development careers. The professional learning content is focused on developing and mastering culturally sustaining practices that lead to the success of all students and career longevity for their educators.
BLOC Building
A programmatic thrust that executes key parts of BLOC's vision:
to develop effectiveness through relevant and applicable professional training, and to connect Black Men with each other through a supportive community.
PROFESSIONAL
LEARNING SERIES
Monthly professional development focused on increasing the technical skillset of BLOC members. Free for all!
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING SERIES
Grow your professional teaching network
NURU FASHIHI LITERARY COMMUNITY
A book study series that allows participants to share, grow, and deepen their Culturally Sustaining Practices.
BLOC Building
Our Work
Since 2016 we have been focused on the Kansas City metropolitan area, dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and advancing Black men through careers in education, thereby transforming the landscape of traditional educational leadership. Since its inception, BLOC has committed to providing affinity-based networks of development and support to meet the unique needs of the Black Male Educator, which are so often overlooked by typical educational development programming and whose omission leads directly to the lack of Black male representation in education careers.
ULYSSES BESTEY
BLACK MALE EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award is designed to recognize the long lasting dedication of Black men who serve our students and communities.
Named after Ulysses Bestey, who has taught pre-k at Paseo Baptist Learning Center for over 30 years, this award exemplifies the resilience, dedication, passion, and excellence it requires to be an excellent educator.
Take the opportunity to nominate your mentor, friend, or colleague for this prestigious award.
Nominations will be accepted from February through April, and the winner will be announced
LiberatED Too
A CONFERENCE FOR BLACK MALE EDUCATORS AND THEIR ALLIES
129
PARTICIPANTS
100
CONFERENCE ATTENDEES EVALUATED THE LEARNING AS VALUABLE
100
OF CONFERENCE ATTENDEES AGREE LIBERATED TOO HELPS SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN CAREERS IN EDUCATION