It’s the second week of classes and down Academic Row walks Chris, a freshman from Brooklyn, New York. With Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize” blasting in his headphones, reminding him of his Bed-Stuy neighborhood, he looks around and sees countless friend groups. Whether it be on the Great Lawn tossing a frisbee or chatting as they leave the dining hall, Chris is reminded that he hasn’t yet found his group.
For students like Chris, Men of Color Network (MCN) provides not only a support system, but a brotherhood forged through bi-weekly meetings, volunteer work and even off-campus outings.
Men of Color Network was started in 2019 by Zaire Carter ‘22 and Robin Chodak ‘22. The duo founded the affinity group with the intention of strengthening the bond between young men of color on campus while also equipping them with the necessary networking skills to thrive as young adults in the post-graduate world.
This past year, the Men of Color Network, under the new leadership of Matthew McCray ‘24, Darain Khan ‘25, Ibrahim Sidibeh ‘25, Maridie Niare ‘26, Yusuf Abdulkarimu ‘26 and myself Jonathan Lewis ‘24, have hosted a series of notable events including a “Dress Up Wednesday,” “Karaoke Night” and even more substantial events such as “A Conversation on Black Love,” and an organization favorite, “Barbershop Talk.” By creating spaces on campus for young men of color to not only have fun but also have thought-provoking conversations with the goal of learning more, the Men of Color Network is a safe haven for the students it serves.
As the 2023-2024 academic year kicks off, the Men of Color Network invites those who see fit to join the organization.
the team foresees a jam-packed calendar with events guaranteed to strengthen the brotherhood of young men of color on campus.
We’re looking forward to a great year for the Men of Color Network. We have an amazing team of guys that are passionate about this organization and more importantly passionate about strengthening the bond between the young men of color at Muhlenberg College.
