Friends,
Good morning, and welcome.
I hope that by now you are starting to find out why we so often say it is better in The Bahamas.
Not simply because of the beauty that surrounds us, though that is undeniable. Not only because of the warmth of the sun or the sea, but because of the spirit of the people you meet here. Because of the way community still matters. Because of the way faith, family, and responsibility continue to guide daily life. I am glad you chose to be here, and I hope you feel that this country has opened its arms to you.
I want to speak plainly with you this morning.
At home, I often talk about the male crisis we are facing. It is a hard conversation, but it is a necessary one. Too many of our boys are growing up without consistent guidance. Too many young men are drifting, unsure of their place, unsure of their value, unsure of what is expected of them. We see the consequences in our schools, in our communities, and in too many broken families.
There is a proverb that puts it in a brutal image: ‘If the young are not initiated into the village, they will burn it down just to feel its warmth.’
A child left outside the circle does not stay outside forever. He comes back angry. He comes back reckless. He comes back with matches in his hand, because even destructive attention feels like warmth when you have lived too long in the cold.
This is not a challenge unique to The Bahamas. It is a global issue. But it is one that small countries like ours feel deeply because every life matters and every loss is personal.
That is why your presence here this week matters.
Because this room represents the positive side of the story. It represents men who chose discipline over distraction. Men who accepted structure rather than resisted it. Men who understood that brotherhood is not about convenience, but commitment. Men who learned early that leadership is something you practice long before anyone hands you a title.
When young people see men who are serious about education, service, and accountability, it changes what they believe is possible. It reshapes ambition. It provides a reference point. And that example is powerful.
Kappa Alpha Psi has carried that responsibility for generations. Your fraternity has helped shape leaders who show up, who give back, and who carry themselves with purpose. That legacy is not abstract. It is lived out in classrooms, in courtrooms, in boardrooms, in churches, and in communities that are stronger because someone chose to lead with integrity.
This morning, I want to encourage you to reflect on the weight of that influence.
Leadership is not about perfection. It is about consistency. It is about doing the right thing often enough that others begin to trust you. It is about understanding that every young person watching you is learning something, whether you intend to teach or not.
That is why mentorship matters. That is why presence matters. That is why how you speak, how you listen, and how you treat others matters.
Here in The Bahamas, we are working to create opportunity, to restore confidence, and to build pathways for young people who need direction. But government cannot do that work alone. Communities cannot do it alone. Families cannot do it alone.
We need men who are willing to stand in the gap.
We need men who will speak to boys who do not hear encouragement at home. Men who will model discipline without cruelty, strength without arrogance, and success without forgetting where they came from. Men who understand that leadership is service, not status.
That is why this conference is important.
You are not just sharpening skills. You are renewing purpose. You are being reminded that leadership is a daily decision.
Since you are here in The Bahamas, I want to take a moment to recognize one of our own who embodies these values.
Many of you know Quinton Lightbourne.
Quinton is a proud Bahamian, and he represents the very best of what is possible when preparation meets opportunity. He has carried himself with humility, discipline, and seriousness in spaces that demand excellence. He has never forgotten his roots, and he has never compromised his values to gain access or approval.
For young Bahamian men watching his journey, Quinton sends a clear message. That where you start does not limit where you can go. That integrity travels well. That quiet consistency builds credibility. And that success is most meaningful when it is paired with service.
Quinton, we are proud of you. Thank you for representing this country with dignity, and thank you for being an example that our young men can point to and say, “If he can do it, maybe I can too.”
Friends, encouragement is not a soft thing. It is a serious responsibility.
Encouragement means telling the truth with care. It means pushing people to rise, even when it is uncomfortable. It means reminding one another that leadership demands more, not less, as you grow.
So as you move through this conference, I encourage you to ask yourselves some direct questions.
Who am I responsible for lifting right now?
Who am I mentoring with intention?
Who is watching me, even when I do not realize it?
And what example am I setting when things get difficult?
Those answers matter.
Let me leave you with a call to action.
While you are here in The Bahamas, do more than attend sessions and events. Engage. Speak to young people. Share your story honestly, including the setbacks. Build a connection that lasts beyond this week. Leave behind something that cannot be measured in photographs or schedules.
When you return home, recommit to mentorship. Recommit to service. Recommit to showing up in the places where guidance is most needed.
Because the male crisis will not be solved by speeches alone. It will be solved by presence. By consistency. By men who choose responsibility again and again.
You have the platform. You have the experience. You have the influence.
Use it.
We are grateful to host you. We are encouraged by your example. And we look forward to the impact you will continue to have, both here and far beyond our shores.
Welcome again to The Bahamas, and may your time here strengthen your purpose and renew your commitment to lead well.