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Men of Color National Summit

2024 Call for Proposals

Important Dates

September 15, 5 p.m. – Priority Proposal Submission
October 16, 5 p.m. – Final Proposal Submission

The 2024 Call for Proposals is closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Submission Process

Proposal Development

  • What is a good session format?

    The best sessions are interactive, focus on relevant issues, and enable the audience to ask questions during the session. If your session focuses on student participants, please remember the more interactive and hands-on the experience is for students, the more they will get out of the session.

  • What are the expected session outcomes?

    Typical session outcomes include inspiring the audience, motivating the audience for action, discussing success strategies, and providing information for the audience.

  • What is the recommended title length?

    Session titles should be succinct, descriptive and concise.

  • What is the recommended session content?

    While proposal content varies, typical sessions for students will utilize narratives, storytelling, hands-on activities and workshop-style formats to motivate and inspire students. Many sessions will include success strategies for high school and action steps for navigating to future career goals. Sessions that focus on professionals will highlight experiences, research and statistical information followed by recommendations for practice, programs or policies.

  • What is the preferred session framework for students?

    Engaging, hands-on, workshop-style sessions for students typically provide information to enhance academic behavioral, social and career outcomes.

  • If my session proposal focuses on students, should I describe the intended student audience?

    Session proposals that focus on professionals should clearly delineate the extent to which the session is designed for business leaders, community leaders, higher education administrators, parents, policymakers, principals, professors, school counselors, student affairs professionals, teachers or other professional groups.

  • How should I create a title for my session?

    The session title should inform the audience about the purpose and potential impact of the session. While being succinct, the title should excite attendees and grab their attention so that they want to attend your session.

  • Should I design my session for students and professionals?

    Considering the structure of the summit, it will be best if the session focuses on students or professionals.

  • Should I include a reference list in my session proposal?

    Given the space limitations on the proposal submission form, we do not recommend incorporating a reference list in the session proposal. However, any copyrighted material should be indicated using an in-text citation based on the guidelines in the seventh edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

  • What should I avoid in my proposal?

    We encourage proposals that do not include discriminatory or offensive language in the title, abstract or any aspect of the proposal. We also encourage proposals that do not include biased political views.

  • What type of information should I include in my session?

    All sessions must incorporate relatable content to the audience and focus on success stories related to the Summit theme.

Evaluation Criteria

  • When will the committee review the proposals?

    The proposal evaluation committee will review session proposals after the call for proposals has ended.

  • What are the proposal review criteria?

    The proposal review criteria include, but are not limited to, the session overview (e.g., Are the session's learning objectives clearly defined, aligned with the session theme, and connected to the summit's theme?); presentation format (e.g., Does the session utilize an effective format?); and audience engagement (e.g., Will the session incorporate impactful audience interaction?).

  • How can I enhance my proposal?

    With regard to the committee's review criteria, which influences the selection decisions, the selected proposals describe the audience for the presentation; specify the focus of the presentation; delineate the connection between the presentation topic and the summit theme; discuss whether the presentation will focus on high school students, college students or professionals; briefly articulate the presenters qualifications; describe how the presentation will be engaging for the intended audience; and incorporate technology, multimedia, handouts, audience interaction, case studies, personal narratives, storytelling and research.

  • How will the committee review the proposals?

    The proposal evaluation committee incorporates a quantitative component (i.e., a rating form) and a qualitative component (i.e., an analysis of the content of the proposal), as well as mixed methods procedures (i.e., a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques).

  • What other criteria does the evaluation committee consider?

    While evaluating proposals, the committee is advised to consider our interest in diverse, positive and non-political sessions. In addition to these issues, our selection process seeks to ensure that the summit's concurrent sessions discuss solutions to challenges facing men of color. Also, as it relates to evaluating proposals, the committee considers the extent to which session proposals incorporate theoretical, research-based and scholarly perspectives as well as utilize students as co-presenters, focus on college students, focus on high school students, highlight practical implications, integrate research findings, examine college readiness, focus on parents, emphasize mental health topics and focus on contemporary issues.

  • What additional considerations will the proposal review incorporate?

    During the proposal evaluation process, while considering the complex array of attributes about each proposal, the committee also contemplates the potential impact of all of the session proposals recommended for selection. Additionally, the proposal evaluation committee ensures that we have adequate topical representation to address each session theme (i.e., career and professional development, entrepreneurship, masculinity/personal identity, retention rates, graduation and student achievement, and social/community engagement).

Presentation Information

Summit Overview