What is Genius for Men?

Genius For Men brings honor and innovation to DC through a men’s empowerment forum that fosters community between men and women, celebrates male achievement, and honors men who seek to transcend the limits within their professions. GFM honors was started by two sisters who would like to showcase the ways in which men meet the mark in our communities. The Genius for Men Honors is a full production in which we recognize men who are meeting the mark in our communities. Genius for Men is unique in that men and women attend and facilitate the entire event.  We tell their stories through tributes that feature emerging performing and visual artists. Some of the confirmed honorees are Journalist and activist Jeff Johnson, Composer Darin Atwater, and the Impact Your World organization.

With the 2012 theme of social justice and direct action, Genius For Men Honors (GFM) will take place at THEARC, Washington, DC on October 13, 2012 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. This program is birthed out of the philosophy that a stronger community is partly dependent on the growth and success of our boys and men. We hold this event at THEARCDC.org to join in their efforts to bring quality performing arts and uplift to southeast DC. We have been recognized by entities such as Washington, DC’s WKYS FM and the Lady Diva Corporation for our efforts over the last four years.

INTENTION

This GFM fundraising campaign will help us to make sure that we can record the production. We have received invitations from agencies to offer this recording to public schools, athletic programs, rites of passage programs, fatherhood initiatives, and youth empowerment programs. GFM will be an opportunity for people between ages 11 – 18 to gain information on succeeding in fields such as the music industry, law, hard sciences, and business. Your donations will go to the set design, space for the tech rehearsals of the artists, videography and DVD processing, technical needs for our 12 – piece band, artists, instrument rental, and we would like to compensate the personnel that make this event happen.

Should we be unable to reach our goal of $10,000, we would like for contributions to go toward the recording of the amazing show that we are crafting.

 

Past Honoress

Past honorees have included neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, Edgar Brookins of Afro-American newspaper, composer Richard Smallwood, motivational speaker Willy Jolley, A. B. Spellman, music critic, poet, and former administrator of the National Endowment of the Arts, jazz and classical musician Tony Walker who is the music director for Ledisi, Chick-Fil-A, businessman and philanthropist Michael Melton, Congressman John Lewis, VP and Editor-at-Large of Black Enterprise, Alfred Edmond, The Institute for Responsible Citizenship, Rev. Tony Lee of Community of Hope AME and CBS Radio Personality, photographer Bill Lee,  the 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, DC, Daniel Moore of the Mo’nique Show, Brandon Camphor and One Way, Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood, Elder Jimmy Grant, and Good Ground Good Life. 

TARGET GROUPS

The men participating at GFM as facilitators, panelists and/or honorees are people who see the urgent need  to inspire and empower other young men. The women who are spearheading the conference’s development share that urgency. We would appreciate your help in making sure the Genius For Men Conference provides the best resources to our attendees.

We are looking to raise $10,000 to make sure that we can pass on the synergy that is cultivated at the GFM Honors production to deserving youths!

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