The inaugural Men’s Summit, organized by the Save The Youth Foundation, created an all-male student-centered event at Howard, offering networking, mentorship and discussion for a population that makes up just 28.3 percent of the undergraduate body.
On the evening of Feb. 25, the Founders Gallery Lounge was filled with the quiet energy of anticipation. Exclusively male students, dressed in dark professional attire, moved through the space with purpose, ready to engage in conversations about leadership, identity and community.
Since October, Founder of Save The Youth Foundation, L.B. Towns Jr., a senior business management major from Columbus, Ohio, planned the event with the vision of creating a space to support Howard male students.
The event featured speakers and panels from Howard University faculty and student leaders, while also spotlighting the arts through student performances and talent. With live-painting by television and film production major, Noah Pierson. As well as special performances by Alphonso Evans Jr., a junior music business major from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“It was meaningful to me, knowing the small percentage of Black men at Howard. This event let them come together and network with alumni, student ambassadors and leaders,” Towns said.
The Men’s Summit featured Howard University student leaders and faculty, Hamid Jollah (49th Mr. Howard University), Payton Garcia (65th Howard University Student Association Vice-President), and Amare Hunter (Model & Business Influencer). With Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick, Dr. Calvin Hadley and Junious Whitaker as keynote speakers. Towns wanted to present a group of both speakers and panelists who represented multiple ages and experiences.
“Hamid, Amare, and Payton all have very unique experiences at Howard, from different sides of campus and I thought that was very important,” Towns said.
Amare Tiger Hunter, a sophomore economics major, finance minor from Newark, New Jersey, served as a panelist at the event and shared his insights on its sentiments.
“We wanted to create an event for Howard men to congregate and speak on a common goal while promoting Black excellence.” Hunter said, “For me, it was important to hone in on inclusivity by having students with different interests, artists, live painters.”
Hunter also spoke about the importance of the summit to host speakers who showcased diverse voices from across campus.
“On this campus, we may have different cliques we resonate with, but ultimately, the male students here do need to establish unity with one another,” Hunter adds.
Save The Youth Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 2024 by L.B Towns Jr, seeks to provide youth with the resources, mentors and community necessary to achieve. L.B Towns Jr., an active member of campus organizations like Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Beta Chapter and a fellow in the Warner Music Center, brought together dozens of Howard students as executive board members and ambassadors in just two years of the organization’s establishment.
Matt Biedelman, a sophomore finance major from Teaneck, New Jersey, joined Save The Youth Foundation as an Ambassador in the fall semester.
“The event was great and very impactful. I saw it went viral, and honestly, I’ve never seen so many Black men in a space at Howard like that,” Biedelman said. “I’m looking forward to more male mentorship like that because at Howard, we are such a small-knit community.”
As the foundation increases in campus notability and impact, Towns spoke to how his upbringing heavily impacted Save The Youth Foundation’s origin.
“Growing up in a big family of eighteen, I was instilled with the mindset to be a leader and a role model. My father was a pastor as well, and coming from that upbringing taught me the importance of giving back,” Towns said.
Upon matriculating at Howard University, Towns’ goal was to translate his experience into impact, particularly for underserved Black and brown youth, after noticing adversities, hardships and discrepancies in their opportunities and resources.
The foundation began hosting events and programs around D.C. focused on empowering Black youth through financial literacy and personal development rooted in faith, education and sports. The organization collaborated with events like the annual Hoop4Change, where young Black boys use basketball to raise awareness of gun violence and promote youth empowerment. Additionally, in September, the foundation provided two scholarships to young high school students in Queens, New York and spoke to young students about the journey to college and success.
“When I say Save The Youth, I want to change the systemic barriers before them. I want to be able to provide whatever opportunity they may need to be successful,” Towns said. “That could be in a variety of different ways, from financial resources to mentorship. I see this being a generational impact.”
Towns acknowledges that the barriers in front of many young people, particularly Black youth, are not rooted in a lack of ambition, but in systemic inequities that limit access to resources, guidance, and opportunity.
“I want Save The Youth to work as recruitment for HBCUS long-term, to bridge the gap from high school students that are trying to get to college,” Towns said. “I want to leave an impact where people see Save The Youth, and know that it has an incomparable impact.”
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore
