This past weekend, Xavier University of Louisiana hosted the Magnificent Male Weekend, an on-campus enrichment experience for nearly 100 young black men from across 21 states. The participants and their families were welcomed to Xavier’s campus for a weekend of empowering panel discussions with Xavier alums and other prominent figures, recreational activities, workshops, and excursions in the storied city of New Orleans.  

"This program allows the university to walk alongside these young men and their parents from their sophomore, junior and senior years in high school to get them ready for not only coming to Xavier, but going to any college," said Curtis Wright, vice president of student affairs at Xavier in an interview with local media station WDSU. 

From over 500 applicants, just over one hundred were selected to join the program, which aims to support and empower young Black men by providing fellowship and mentorship in addition to access to resources to enhance their skills in problem-solving, critical thinking and interpersonal relationships.  

“I come from a single parent background, and understanding the importance of seeing people who look like me- it's an experience that it carries you a long way,” said Kemani Howard, Coordinator for Black Male Engagement at Xavier and one of the event’s organizers in an interview with WDSU. “When you see somebody who is successful and you hear the story, it gives power to succession. Building that community is what we’re here for.” 

At the conclusion ceremony on Sunday, each young man received a Xavier University of Louisiana cardigan and conditional acceptance to the university. Starting in September, participants will attend monthly, virtual sessions through May, whereupon completion they will receive guaranteed admission and a $5,000 grant to the nation’s only historically Black and Catholic institution.  

View the television segment from WDSU here