More than 800 students, alumni, educators, professionals, and community advocates gathered at Brooklyn College on October 2 for the 21st Annual CUNY BMI Conference, “Building Bridges: How Communities Protect & Empower.” Held at the Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts, the conference celebrated the leaders and visionaries who have shaped the CUNY BMI movement while inspiring the next generation of changemakers.
Focused on the power of community, the conference made its Brooklyn College debut and featured keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to strengthen connections across campuses and neighborhoods. Sessions explored topics including immigrant rights, wellness, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, education, sports careers, and content creation.
Christopher Rodriguez, director of the Black and Latino Male Initiative at Brooklyn College,
Christopher Rodriguez, director of the Black and Latino Male Initiative (BLMI) at Brooklyn College, helped open the conference alongside Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso; Yasmin Ali, vice president for student affairs at Brooklyn College; Denise B. Maybank, vice chancellor for student affairs at CUNY; George O. Patterson, senior director of My Brother’s Keeper at the NYC Department of Education; Jonathan Quash, university executive director of the CUNY Black Male Initiative; and keynote speaker Charles Barron, the longtime Brooklyn activist and former member of both the New York City Council and New York State Assembly. Jeff Gardere, known as “America’s Favorite Psychologist,” served as the master of ceremonies.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
Jonathan Quash, executive director of the CUNY Black Male Initiative.
Speakers praised the mission and impact of BMI and encouraged students to stay focused on their goals, embrace community and mentorship, and continue striving for academic, professional, and personal success.
Rodriguez thanked attendees, organizers, and staff, including Shadiq Williams, program coordinator for the college’s BLMI, for promoting and helping to make the event a huge success.
“It is an absolute honor and privilege to host you all and bring the 21st Annual CUNY BMI Conference to Brooklyn College for the first time in its history,” Rodriguez said. “This conference reminds us that community is our greatest strength and that together is how we protect and empower. Through mentorship, service, and collective action, we create spaces where students are supported, empowered, and inspired to lead. Together, we continue the legacy of the Black and Latino Male Initiative by investing in one another and building a more equitable future.”
Throughout the day, attendees participated in breakout sessions and conversations focused on leadership, resilience, advocacy, and opportunity, while building networks and gaining tools for personal and collective success.
