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NEWS CENTERIGNITING MINDS WITH BREAKING INSIGHTS
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At DBMG, our mission goes far beyond awarding scholarships—we’re building a legacy of excellence by investing in young Black men with the potential to shape the future. Today, we proudly spotlight one of our outstanding former scholarship recipients, Denel McMahan, as he prepares to take his next step: law school  A Rising Legal Mind with Big Dreams
Denel recently announced that he will be attending Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in the Fall of 2025, pursuing a career in entertainment law. Located in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world, Loyola is one of the nation’s most respected institutions for law—and Denel is walking in with purpose. In his words: “Being located in the heart of LA, surrounded by top industry leaders and top entertainment companies, is the perfect environment to grow and chase my goal of working in entertainment law.” From Scholarship to Success As a recipient of the DBMG Scholarship, Denel exemplified the values we hold dear: academic excellence, community involvement, and forward-looking ambition. He’s not just heading to law school—he’s creating a pathway for others to follow. Whether mentoring peers, engaging in community advocacy, or preparing for a legal career, Denel continues to embody the leadership and integrity that our scholarship program was designed to support. Celebrating Black Excellence, One Story at a Time The DBMG Spotlight series honors the journeys of our former scholars and shows the tangible impact of your support. Denel’s success reminds us that the investment we make in young Black men multiplies—in their careers, in their communities, and in the legacy they leave behind. Want to Help Write the Next Success Story? ✅ Support the Scholarship Fund: dbmg.org/donate.html ✅ Become a Mentor: Share your journey with the next generation ✅ Spread the Word: Know a student like Denel? Help him apply. We’re proud of you, Denel—and we’re just getting started. #DBMGSpotlight #BlackExcellence #ScholarshipSuccess #FutureLawyer #EntertainmentLaw #LoyolaLawSchool #MentorshipMatters #SupportBlackYouth #AlumniImpact
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 DBMG is proud to extend the application deadline for our 2025 Scholarship Program to May 15. This initiative supports African American young men in Contra Costa and Alameda counties on their journey to higher education.
✅ Open to high school seniors ✅ Minimum 2.5 GPA ✅ Community involvement encouraged ✅ Up to $5,000 in scholarship awards available 💡Tip: A strong personal essay and clear goals can make your application stand out. Apply today or share this with a young man who deserves a shot: 👉 dbmg.org/scholarship-program.html Let’s invest in Black excellence—one scholar at a time. -- #DBMGScholarship #BlackExcellence #EastBayEducation #SupportBlackYouth #ScholarshipAlert #FutureLeaders #ApplyNow #ContraCostaCounty #AlamedaCounty  The fairway isn’t just for perfecting your swing—it’s a space where community is built, conversations deepen, and support for our mission takes form. The Diablo Black Men's Group (DBMG) is proud to host our 19th Annual Golf Classic, a signature event that blends fellowship, fundraising, and fun, all in support of Black excellence.
More Than Just a Game For Black men, golf is more than a sport—it’s a setting where relationships grow. Our Golf Classic is a unique space where members reconnect, reflect, and reinvest in one another and our youth. While some may think of golf as a networking tool, for DBMG, it’s an extension of our monthly gatherings—an open-air forum where laughter, encouragement, and connection naturally unfold. Driving Toward a Purpose The real power of this event? Scholarship support. Last year’s Golf Classic raised over $25,000 for our DBMG Scholarship Fund, helping young African American males in Contra Costa and Alameda counties pursue higher education. Every dollar raised helps remove financial barriers, support mentorship, and create pathways to success for students who might otherwise be overlooked. Event Details 📍 Location: Callippe Preserve Golf Club, Pleasanton, CA 📅 Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 🕖 Time: Registration opens at 7:00 AM; Tournament starts at 8:00 AM 🎯 Early Bird Registration: ✅ $175 if you register by June 1 ❗ Price increases to $200 starting June 2 ⛳ Includes:
Ways to Participate Whether you're teeing off or just showing up for lunch, there’s a place for you:
Support the Cause If you can't make it to the event, consider supporting in other ways:
👉 https://app.eventcaddy.com/events/dbmg-19th-annual-golf-classic Let’s make this year’s 19th Annual DBMG Golf Classic our most impactful yet. Every swing brings a young Black man one step closer to college. #DBMGGolf #BlackExcellence #ScholarshipFundraiser #EastBayProfessionals #SupportBlackYouth #GolfForACause #EarlyBirdEndsJune1  For Black men navigating demanding careers, family responsibilities, and social challenges, health and wellness often take a backseat. At DBMG, we know that true success includes a commitment to physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
The Stats Speak VolumesBlack men have the lowest life expectancy of any racial or gender group in the U.S. We face disproportionate rates of:
How DBMG RespondsOur Health & Wellness Team creates space for education, accountability, and real change through: ✅ Quarterly Health Screenings ✅ Monthly Check-ins for mental health and stress support ✅ Fitness Accountability Partners among members ✅ Wellness Retreats that address burnout and balance We’re building a culture where wellness isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Wellness Strategies That WorkHere’s what we encourage our brothers to do:
Your Health Is a Community AssetWhen you’re well, you lead better. Mentor better. Father better. Serve better. That’s why DBMG invests in our members’ wellness—because your health fuels your purpose. #BlackMensHealth #DBMGWellness #BlackExcellence #EastBayProfessionals #HealthIsWealth #MentalHealthAwareness #WellnessForBlackMen  In a world where Black men are still too often the “only one in the room,” the need for meaningful connection isn’t just personal—it’s professional. That’s why DBMG exists: to cultivate a community where Black men can thrive together. Why Brotherhood Matters in Professional Development Studies from the Center for Talent Innovation show that Black professionals with strong networks are 3.4x more likely to be satisfied with their career growth. Yet many feel pressure to shrink their identity just to be accepted. At DBMG, we flip that script. This is a space where your full self is welcomed, your experiences are respected—and your potential is amplified. How We Build Brotherhood We’re intentional about connection. That means: ✅ Mentorship from seasoned professionals ✅ Skill-Sharing Workshops led by our members ✅ Monthly Gatherings that go beyond business and into real-life support We don’t just network—we build. Impact That Extends Beyond the Individual When one of us levels up, we bring others with us. Promotions lead to increased scholarship support. Job referrals open doors. Business collaborations drive community reinvestment. That’s the DBMG multiplier effect. Join Us If you're a Black male professional in the East Bay looking for community, growth, and impact—DBMG is for you. 📧 [email protected] 🌐 DBMG Membership #DBMG #BlackExcellence #BlackBrotherhood #EastBayProfessionals #NetworkWithPurpose #BlackMenLead #PowerOfConnection #SupportBlackProfessionals  Join us for DBMG's 26th Annual Christmas Gala, held on Friday, Dec. 6, from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the Doubletree by Hilton Pleasanton, CA. This elegant evening will feature a gourmet dinner, live and silent auctions, live music, and dancing.
We are offering a $25 Early Bird Discount, available until November 1st—so don't miss out! Proceeds from this cherished holiday event will support our **college scholarship program, benefiting college-bound high school graduates from Contra Costa and Alameda counties. In the spirit of the season, we will also host our annual Toy Drive. Please bring an unwrapped toy, game, or book to add to our Toy Bin and help brighten a child’s holiday. The Early Bird Discount ends on November 1st. CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets and take advantage of the savings before time runs out! Thank you to all of our incredible supporters!  Brentwood Mayor Joel Bryant stopped by the booth to meet DBMG members Horace Gipson, Alain Dangerfield, Andre Darby and Michael Carroll to learn more about the organization. On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, Diablo Black Men's Group had the honor of attending Brentwood’s inaugural Juneteenth celebration at City Park. This momentous event brought the community together to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and to celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of the African American community. Hosted by the charismatic Kevin "Cuz Kev" Brown, the event was a vibrant gathering filled with live performances, delicious food trucks, craft vendors, and activities for all ages. The highlight of the evening was a powerful performance by legendary musician Lenny Williams, which filled the park with soulful energy. In our booth, DBMG members had the pleasure of sharing information about our organization’s mission and upcoming initiatives, including our College Scholarship Program and the much-anticipated 26th Annual Christmas Gala in December. The celebration was a perfect opportunity for us to connect with the community, share our vision, and spread awareness of our work.
A special moment captured in the event’s feature photo shows some of our DBMG members standing alongside Brentwood’s Mayor Joel Bryant, symbolizing the unity and collaboration that made the day so meaningful. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in Brentwood’s first Juneteenth celebration and look forward to attending future events as we continue our mission of education, empowerment, and community support. For more information about our scholarship program or upcoming events, visit our website or contact us at [email protected].  We are thrilled to announce that the 2024 Diablo Black Men's Group Annual Golf Tournament was a record-breaking event, selling out with an all-time high number of golfers! Hosted once again at the beautiful Callippe Preserve Golf Course, this year's tournament brought together members, supporters, and community leaders for a fantastic day of friendly competition and camaraderie. The weather was perfect, and the energy on the course was high as golfers enjoyed a challenging but rewarding 18 holes, all while supporting a great cause. This year's sold-out event not only reflects the growing popularity of our tournament but also the increasing support for DBMG’s mission to uplift and empower young men in our community. Proceeds from the event will go directly toward our College Scholarship Program, which provides financial assistance to deserving young men pursuing higher education. We're proud to say that with each year, this event helps us extend our reach and make a bigger impact.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our golfers, sponsors, and volunteers who made this year’s tournament such an incredible success. Your participation and generosity continue to drive our efforts forward. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year for another exciting day of golf and community spirit! For more information on how you can get involved in future DBMG events or support our scholarship program, please contact us at [email protected].  DBMG members Carl Bass, Phil Tucker and Families man the DBMG Booth at the Juneteenth Celebration. On Saturday, June 15, 2024, Diablo Black Men's Group proudly participated in Livermore’s 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration, hosted at the vibrant Bankhead Plaza. The event commemorated the liberation of enslaved people in Texas, marking two years after the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the Confederate States. Organized by Tri-Valley for Black Lives, Livermore Valley Arts, and Las Positas College, the celebration brought together a rich array of cultural expressions, including music, drumming, dancing, and performances from talented local groups. The festival also featured food vendors, local businesses selling unique products, and several non-profit organizations providing community resources. At our booth, DBMG members and their families proudly shared information about our organization’s initiatives. We promoted our College Scholarship Program, designed to support young Black men pursuing higher education, and provided details about our upcoming 26th Annual Christmas Gala, set for December. The gala promises an evening filled with dinner, live music, auctions, and dancing, all to support our scholarship fund and further community engagement.
We were grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this important celebration, and we look forward to continuing our participation in future Juneteenth events in collaboration with the City of Livermore. These gatherings are a meaningful way for us to engage with the community and spread awareness about our mission. For more information about our scholarship program or upcoming events, visit our website or contact us at [email protected].  At the University of Vermont not long ago, it was move-in day for the class of 2027. About a thousand incoming freshman were meeting their roommates, finding their dorm rooms, and getting settled on campus. At first glance one might have thought this was an all-women's college – 62% of this year's class are women, a gender gap that has earned Burlington, Vt., a nickname: Girlington.
"You see six or seven women for every three or four men," said UVM's vice provost for enrollment Jay Jacobs. His job is all about student diversity, and these days the male/female divide is now part of that equation. "Sure, I thought about racial and ethnic diversity," Jacobs said. "Sure, at a public flagship in the state of Vermont, I've thought about geographic diversity. Never gender diversity like that. That's where we are." UVM is hardly an outlier. Nationwide, women make up almost 60% of college undergraduates. In 1972, when Title IX was passed to help improve gender equality on campus, men were 13% more likely to get an undergraduate degree than women; today, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, it's women who are 15% more likely to get a degree than men. "We have a bigger gender gap today than we did when we passed laws to help women and girls; it's just flipped," said Richard Reeves, a former Brookings Institution senior fellow. He says, no one really has been able to explain why so many men are so absent in higher education. What is known is the gender disparity starts as early as kindergarten, where girls are just generally the stronger sex in academics. Reeves said, "If you look at high school GPA, and those who are getting the best grades in high school, two-thirds of them are girls. Those with the lowest grades, two-thirds of them are boys." It's been theorized girls and women today are just fulfilling their destiny – that once the limitations on their achievements were lifted, they soared. Reeves, who's just launched the American Institute for Boys and Men, fears that things have changed so quickly, it's left many boys and men struggling to catch up, not just in the classroom, but at work and at home, too. "What does it mean to be a successful man today? That was a question that was pretty easy to answer a generation or two ago," said Reeves. "But actually, what is the answer today? A lot of these guys just don't know." In short, he says millions of boys and men don't understand how or where they fit anymore, and their reaction is to generally disconnect. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, men's participation in the labor market has dropped more than 7% in the last 50 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21% of men report binge drinking (almost double the rate of women), and men account for nearly 80% of suicide deaths (four times the rate for women). Reeves said, "The two most commonly-used words by suicidal men to describe themselves were useless and worthless." But even to suggest there's some kind of male crisis is perilous these days, said Reeves: "Merely raising it will cause people to eye roll, and say, 'Really? Ten thousand years of patriarchy, and now you're worried?'" After all, women still earn only about 80 cents for every dollar earned by a man (according to Pew Research Center). Only a fraction (10.4%) of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. And women make up just a quarter (28%) of the members in Congress, and (so far) zero U.S. presidents. Those numbers leave UVM students Sarah Wood and Maxine Flordeliza pretty skeptical that men are barely treading water. "I think it's very interesting that there is kind of a big fuss about – not a fuss, but it's a conversation that people are having," said Wood. "But I don't think it's necessarily a problem?" "I think that just the fact that the playing field has been a bit more evened out, shouldn't be the reason as to why men don't really know where they fit," Flordeliza said. "Sure, do we need to do more to encourage more women into politics and into board rooms? Yes," Reeves said. "But meanwhile, can I not see that one group is struggling here, and another group is struggling there? And if I can't do that, we're in really deep trouble." And those in the most trouble, he says, are working class and African American boys and men. Von Washington Jr., executive director of community relations with The Kalamazoo Promise in Michigan, said, "Before it used to be, you graduated high school, 'Goodbye, you're on your own.' A lot of people said, 'Hey, you're outta my house.' Or 'It's time for you to go.' But we're understanding now those supports need to continue." The Kalamazoo Promise program offers high school graduates in Kalamazoo scholarships covering up to the entire cost of in-state college tuition. The impact? The number of Kalamazoo women getting a college degree has increased by about 45%. But the number of Kalamazoo men getting college degrees didn't budge. "We're working with them, we're talking with them," said Washington. "We're trying to find out what is it that, even with this opportunity, you have some of the same challenges as someone in another community that doesn't have this opportunity." One solution that seems to be working is making sure those men who are struggling have a place to freely admit they're struggling. Staffers with The Promise are tracking down those men still eligible for the scholarship, finding out why they never used it, and helping them get what they need to finally do it – like Daniel Jaffari. "I just started wandering around in life and doing random jobs, getting tired of doing random jobs," said Jaffari. "And now I'm here!" He joined with dozens of other men at what the Promise was calling their Males of Promise event. Another participant was Denis Martin, who graduated high school six years ago. He said, had the Promise not tracked him down, he might not have realized he was ready for something more. "I feel like now I have the discipline to be in a five-year program or a four-year program," he said. "As a kid I feel like I was still bouncing off the walls, and my mind didn't know what exactly was out there." Back at UVM, administrators have changed their marketing and communication strategies to reach out to men, especially those who might not think they want to go to college at all. The college is also hiring a diversity coordinator to focus specifically on helping men. Jacobs said to Cowan, "The world is built for people like you and me to succeed, so why do we need to help men succeed here on our campus even more? But I think once people start to understand the nuances and challenges that we're talking about here today, people understand that all students need support." UVM junior Lucas Roemer doesn't see it as a sort of affirmative action – putting the finger on the scale for men. He sees it as a way to help anyone who's been hanging on and feeling left out. "I think there's ways to promote both femininity and masculinity on campus equally well," he said. "I think there's definitely a path forward that could be beneficial to everybody." The coordinator of the Men and Masculinities Program will be housed in the Women & Gender Equities Center – ironic to some. But it's also a recognition that men's problems can co-exist with those of women. "You lift the edges up, the center will be lifted up as well," said Jacobs. "And here, the edges include men." It's the kind of reaction to the very real problems of boys and men that Richard Reeves says needs to be the rule, and not the exception: "This is not a made-up crisis of masculinity. This is an actual hard fact. There is real suffering here, and if we don't address real suffering, then what are we here for?" Source: CBS NEWS |
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