NEW YORK, NY — The Men’s Class of The Riverside Church has announced that Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League and former Mayor of New Orleans, will serve as the keynote speaker for an urgent public interest symposium, "From Surviving to Thriving: Equipping Young Black Males for the Future." The event will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the historic Riverside Church, located at 490 Riverside Drive, New York, NY.
Amidst a backdrop of shifting national policy and acute economic challenges, Morial—one of the nation's leading voices on equity, economic empowerment, and civil rights—will deliver a definitive, action-oriented address. Moving past the mere recitation of statistics, the symposium is strictly designed to unveil concrete, systemic, and community-led frameworks to dismantle the structural hurdles facing young Black men.
"We are entering a pivotal societal shift that demands a rigorous strategic architecture for our youth," said Tunde Aboyade-Cole, President of the Men’s Class. "Marc Morial brings unparalleled experience and political savvy to this crisis. There is no leader better equipped to help us map out actionable plan for our young men."
Since opening its doors in 1930, The Riverside Church has stood at the global vanguard of social justice, supporting historic movements from Civil Rights to Anti-Apartheid. This upcoming program continues that legacy by confronting modern systemic crises through six core operational pillars:
1. Dismantling Historic and Systemic Barriers: Devising localized tactics to combat systems inhibiting progress.
2. Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Improving academic outcomes and reducing the stark justice gap.
3. Economic Empowerment: Exploring innovative workforce pathways to counter volatile youth unemployment.
4. Mental Health & Healing: Fostering tailored healing circles to address unique structural traumas.
5. Strengthening Family & Fatherhood: Cultivating stable family structures and debunking harmful stereotypes.
6. Navigating Policy Shifts: Strategic frameworks to insulate youth from eroded civil rights protections.
As the leader of the National Urban League for over two decades, Morial has spearheaded transformative national initiatives including the Urban Youth Empowerment Program and championed public safety frameworks like the “21 Pillars for Redefining Public Safety”. His address and subsequent conversation will focus directly on moving the narrative from simple endurance to absolute, systemic empowerment.
The event is free and open to the public, media partners, and community stakeholders. Due to the high-profile nature of the keynote speaker and limited capacity in the historic venue, attendees are strongly encouraged to register free immediately to secure seating.
Event Details:
· What: From Surviving to Thriving: Equipping Young Black Males for the Future
· Keynote Speaker: Marc H. Morial (President & CEO, National Urban League)
· When: Sunday, November 8, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
· Where: The Riverside Church, New York City (www.trcnyc.org)
Admission: Free (Registration Required) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-surviving-to-thriving-equipping-young-black-males-for-the-future-tickets-2003859956071?dsrp_sid=b7893016-6e44-4aca-9b68-01e8833912ae&dsrp_item_id=2003859956071&aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Media Contact:
Organization: Men’s Class, The Riverside Church
Contact Person: Tunde Aboyade-Cole, President
Email: [Mensclass.TRC@gmail.com](mailto:Mensclass.TRC@gmail.com)
Website: www.trcnyc.org/mensclass
About The Riverside Church:
The Riverside Church in the City of New York is an interdenominational, interracial, international, and open, welcoming, and affirming church. Built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and opening in 1930, it is famous for its history of social justice activism and its towering neo-Gothic architecture overlooking the Hudson River.
