On a quiet college campus in Atlanta, Ga., more than 30 Black male educators gathered for a professional development retreat, organized and led by Black Male Educators Talk (BMEsTalk). The retreat offered personal and professional development created by and for Black male professionals.

One of the participants at the July 11-14 retreat was Marc A. Robinson, assistant professor of African American history at Cal State San Bernardino.

“This program has reminded me of the power of safe, accepting and culturally affirming learning environments, unburdened by negative expectations, stereotypes, etc.,” Robinson said. “This experience has energized me for the upcoming school year and will help me be a better teacher and leader on campus.”

According to Ayodele Harrison, director and lead facilitator, BMEsTalk “is a national initiative committed to the retention, leadership development and recruitment of Black male educators. BMEsTalk fosters the personal development, professional growth and economic mobility of Black men working across the education sector.”

BMEsTalk has been running Catalyst, its annual retreat, each summer for the past three years. During the 2024 retreat, Harrison and his team of four co-facilitators led interactive sessions on leadership development, emotional wellness, conflict resolution, intersectional social awareness, self-care and more.

“The BMEsTalk Catalyst is a summer retreat that equips BMEs to lead with greater emotional intelligence in order to model social and emotional competencies, make sound decisions during challenging moments and conflict, and facilitate collaboration within a team of educators,” Harrison said. “The Catalyst is ideal for Black men seeking a non-judgmental learning community to center wellness, activate joy and be restored.”

The 2024 Catalyst cohort included Black men of various ages, backgrounds, intersecting identities, and professional roles: K-12 teachers, counselors and administrators, and others employed at community non-profits, philanthropic organizations and higher education institutions.

Throughout the three days of experiential learning, community building, and reflections, the Catalyst participants reported the retreat was a deeply enriching experience. The facilitators created a supportive and affirming atmosphere, which allowed the group to open up, share emotions, and learn together without fear of being stigmatized.

“This was a unique experience,” Robinson said. “I am truly glad that I attended Catalyst, and I hope others at CSUSB will be able to participate in the future.”

BMEsTalk is a leadership development initiative powered by CommunityBuild Ventures LLC and is based in Atlanta. For more information about BMEsTalk and upcoming workshops and events, visit its Linktree webpage.