Bridging the Gap - Causeway Collaborative

Causeway Collaborative
presents
Bridging the Gap:
Helping Young Men Build Their Futures
A 6-part Thursday Evening Lecture Series
*Free Admission*
Causeway Collaborative, LLC is launching a 6-part lecture series for parents of struggling millennial males.
The series will focus on critical issues related to “Failure to Launch” in young men and provide parents
with resources to help their children transition successfully into healthy, happy, and productive adults.
THE PROBLEM:
There is a startling epidemic of motivationally disengaged young males in the U.S. Millennial males are less likely to go off to
college, less likely to graduate, more likely to remain at home with their parents into their twenties, and more likely to develop
addiction issues than their female counterparts. These alarming trends seem to be related to a number of complex factors and
reversing them will take a concerted effort on the part of parents and professionals.
LECTURE 1: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH, 7:00 PM AT THE WESTPORT INN
Launching young men into the ‘real’ world
Many parents are anxious about launching their teen boys into the ‘real world.’ These concerns are often justified, since young
men in today’s society face very real challenges in transitioning to adulthood. What steps can parents take to foster motivation
and encourage independence in their sons? Vince Benevento, LPC, will share his unique insights on the “Failure to Launch”
epidemic plaguing young men.
LECTURE 2: THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH, 7:00 PM AT THE WESTPORT INN
Family panel: Coaching your kid off the couch
Parents can become overwhelmed and frustrated with the inability of their sons to move forward, both in school and in life. We’ve
partnered with some local experts on family work to facilitate a dialogue focused on the difficult questions: when to push, when
to back off, and how to say what needs to be said. Emily Cashman, Psy.D., Noni Eden, Ph.D., and Stephanie Ehrman, Ph.D. will
help to provide parents with some possible solutions.
LECTURE 3: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH, 7:00 PM AT THE WESTPORT INN
Four years isn’t always the fix: Gaps and other non-traditional paths to success
It seems to be a commonly held belief that college is the gateway to success. But what happens when your son isn’t ready for
college, or college just doesn’t seem possible, or when your son fails out? Does college really matter? What are the alternatives?
Kimberly Freudigman, Ph.D., a college consulting and placement specialist, will deliver her thoughts on this provocative topic.
LECTURE 4: THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH, 7:00 PM AT THE WESTPORT INN
Making work work
In 2014, unemployment is a significant concern for millennial males. A staggering 40% of millennial males in the U.S. are living
at home with their parents, unable to earn a wage that would allow them to move out and become independent. Even with a
bachelor’s degree it is incredibly difficult to find meaningful, career-driven employment. The reality is that unemployment for
millennials is 36% higher than it was in 1995 for Gen-Xers. What are the barriers for young men entering the work force? How
can parents help prepare their sons to find their way into the workforce in the 21st century? Joel Singer, former high school
administrator and career educator, will share his thoughts about how we can better equip young people to succeed.
LECTURE 5: THURSDAY, APRIL 9TH, 7:00 PM AT THE WESTPORT INN
Addictions panel: The war on drugs begins at home
Approximately one out of every four males age 18-24 has a substance abuse problem. Left unchecked, substance issues are
deadly, so when parents become suspicious that their son might have a problem, understanding how to address it effectively is
critical. Parents and professionals need to respond swiftly with compassion and confrontation. We’ve reached out to three of the
most trusted names in the addiction field - Frank Bartolomeo, Thomas Ahern, and Paul Gallant - to advise parents on combating
this serious health risk in young males.
LECTURE 6: THURSDAY, MAY 7TH, 7:00 PM AT THE WESTPORT INN
Pulling the plug on Internet addictions
With technology empowering us all with access to whatever we want at any time, it’s increasingly difficult for young men to
exert impulse control. Oftentimes, when we believe that young men are spending time taking care of business in the classroom,
they’re doing anything but. The truth is that many young men are video game addicts by the time they are in high school,
bringing about a host of serious social and mental health challenges that kids and their families must address. Dr. Jack Kwo,
international expert on video game and Internet addiction, will share insights any parent could use.
More information to follow