The 100 Black Men of Madison will host a back-to-school event offering free backpacks and a chance to connect with community organizations at the Madison College Truax Campus at 9 am on Saturday, Aug. 11.
As in years past, the event will feature vendors from a variety of different organizations offering resources in areas like education and health. About 30 vendors and organizations are expected to attend, providing things like library network services, registering kids for educational opportunities and allowing kids from traditionally underrepresented communities to experience being at Madison College to see what higher education could look like for them.
“It’s important to see the kids get off to the right start,” Chris Canty, vice president of the 100 Black Men of Madison told Madison365. Canty is one of the organizers of this annual event. “When you start school with the supplies you need, you feel more confident and ready. Too many kids aren’t prepared on day one. 100 Black Men want to close that gap. Madison College has been extremely gracious and partnering with them has been phenomenal.”
The 100 Black Men of Madison has been doing the back-to-school event for two decades now, but Canty says that incorporating the recently renovated campus at Truax and having Madison College become a vital part of the event has helped expand the scope of it.
Kids who show up with a parent will be given a free backpack (one per kid) and having a parent along is going to be mandatory in order for the child to receive the free bag,” he says. “The backpack giveaway, as well as the chance to mingle with the vendors, will take place between 9 am and noon, but people are encouraged to arrive as early as possible.”
