SEAHO Report - Fall 2024 - 36

it enabled them to combat one of the stereotypes that many Black and Brown men comment they encounter
the most in this work, which is often the limited number of Black men who serve in high-ranking leadership
roles and have to survive barriers such as lack of cultural support and tokenism. It is important Black men in
housing can see people who they can relate to doing this work. The group's deep diversity would be a strong
source and superpower to access for the work ahead. That in and of itself is wonderful and intentional. Black
men in Housing is not a monolith. Each of us defines and celebrates our Blackness in unique ways. It was the
collective agreement that it was important for new professionals coming into the field to see this and access a
pre-established network to provide spaces of support, visibility, vulnerability, and development. Furthermore,
as seasoned professionals, it is equally important to see and access this. Before the fellowship concluded in
that space, Merritt provided the brothers with copies of the " Mental Health Journal for Black Men: Prompts and
Practices to Prioritize Yourself and Work on Your Well-Being " by Ryan K. Grace, LMHC. It was something to
utilize and help work through things as Black Men. It was a great takeaway from the wonderful conversation.
It was clear that people were still working through some things and processing others as they all continued to
mentally and physically heal, recover, and transition out of the pandemic.
KC: Stepping on the Scene at SEAHO 2024
It was confirmed that SEAHO 2024
in Charleston, South Carolina,
would be the event when they
debuted the Kingz Collective to the
masses. Charleston was a unique
location due to the history of the
Gullah Geechee people. Despite
being enslaved on islands off the
coast, they created a culture and
community of their own based on
their respective African traditions,
customs, and history.
The KC Leadership Group wanted
to uniformize their efforts and knew
that a collective look would further
affirm Kingz Collective's purpose
and presence. They purchased
t-shirts and lapel pins. As the Kingz
Collective was creating space
for Black and Brown men, their
efforts aligned with the SEAHO-U
theme, which was centered on best
practices in diversity, equity, and
inclusion.
SEAHO's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee also offered several affinity spaces throughout the
conference. One of them was for Men of Color in Housing, and the DEI Committee tapped Merritt to be the
facilitator of the space. The Kingz Collective Leadership Group met to discuss our approach and agenda for
the Men of Color in Housing affinity space and decided it was the perfect day to wear the custom t-shirts.
People continuously inquired about the Kingz Collective as they saw White, Jackson, Tryman, and Merritt,
Sr. walking through the convention center. It allowed them to share the quick elevator ride narrative about
the collective and target goals. When the four Black men entered the assigned room for the Men of Color
affinity space, it was a humbling sight to witness over 80 Men of Color in the space. They spent the dedicated
time for community introductions. Then, they separated into small group discussions to share best practices
and personal and professional tips about success in this field. It was a powerful experience to see so many
brothers together, making connections, and sharing! Participants shared this space, which made them feel at
home, fostered a sense of community, and helped them build meaningful connections with other Men of Color.
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SEAHO Report - Fall 2024

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