The 14th Annual Male Initiative Project (MIP) Student Conference took place on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, on DePaul's Lincoln Park Campus.
The theme of the 2019 conference was #FriendsNotFollowers, unpacking the concept of friendship as an action. Students moved past surface-level definitions of friendship and pursued a deeper understanding of friendship as a set of specific behaviors that include advocacy, brotherhood, responsibility and ally-ship. Students were challenged to apply their new definition of
friendship as an act of doing to an advocacy project addressing a topic of their choosing within their community.
In addition to attending conference workshops, high school students toured the Lincoln Park campus and participated in social and recreational activities with their peers.
A group of MIP participants arrives at the DePaul Student Center
High school students gathered in the DePaul Student Center for a MIP Opening Session
MIP Conference participants with their mentor during a workshop
Students engaged in discussion during a MIP workshop session
High school MIP participants taking notes during a session
Small group discussion during a MIP conference workshop
MIP sessions are facilitated by DePaul and CPS staff and volunteers
A high school student sharing his views during a MIP workshop group discussion
Students engaged in meaningful conversations with their peers during the MIP conference
D-Men challenge activities, facilitated by The Ray staff, provided a fun team-building experience for MIP attendees
Students shared their rap and spoken work skills on stage during the Open Mic session
Every MIP participant received a MIP tshirt as their parting gift from the conference
Every high school group took a team photo before departing DePaul
Over 130 young men of color attended the 2019 Male Initiative Project (MIP) Student Conference
For more information about future Male Initiative Project events, email
CollegeAccess@depaul.edu.