U.S. Attorney to Headline Norton's Black Men and Boys Hearing on Achieving Success

U.S. Attorney to Headline Norton's Black Men and Boys Hearing on Achieving Success

WASHINGTON, DC - The District's U.S. Attorney, Ronald Machen, will be the lead witness as Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) hosts her Commission on Black Men and Boys hearing entitled "Navigating the Speed Bumps on Their Road to Success." The community hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 16, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.

The witnesses are a diverse group of men, varying in age, profession, and backgrounds, whose life experience equips them to tackle the concerns about African-American men and boys who drop out of school more often than girls, have low marriage rates, and are exposed to crime and various addictions; all of which affect their opportunities for success.

"Unless we face head on the issues that confront African-American men and boys, we will not resolve them," Norton said.

As is all too apparent, the issues facing Black men and boys pervade the Black community. The Commission on Black Men and Boys, which knows these issues from the ground up, has been important in encouraging the community to grapple with the condition of Black men and boys for the greater good of the entire community.

In addition to Machen, the witnesses are William Kellibrew, founder of The William Kellibrew Foundation and former Student Body President at the University of the District of Columbia; and Jordan Smiley, Anacostia High School Class of 2010 Valedictorian.

After offering testimony, the witnesses will be questioned by Commission Chair Isaac Fulwood, and Commissioners Byron Browder, Rahim Jenkins, John Matthews, Ronald Moten, Tyrone Parker, and George Starke.