Co-founder of Helping Boys Thrive® Summits

Michael Gurian is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-eight books published in twenty two languages. The Gurian Institute, which he co-founded, conducts research internationally, launches pilot programs and trains professionals. Co-founder of the national Helping Boys Thrive Initiative, Michael travels to dozens of communities every year to help catalyze social change on behalf of children.In this inspirational, practical, and humorous presentation, renowned educator, marriage and family counselor, and New York Times bestselling author Michael Gurian (THE WONDER OF BOYS) focuses on helping boys thrive in our communities, schools, homes, and emotional life. Participants and audience members will learn a great deal about girls as well, since the lives of boys and girls are completely interwoven in today’s world, and gender develops in all human beings on a broad gender spectrum. Based on more than twenty-five years of science-based research, this keynote will trace the neuro-science of gender and child development, how boys’ minds and hearts learn and grow in particular, how acculturation influences boys and young men, and what best practices professionals can use immediately in their work with boys and men. Michael will present not only the developmental science of male life but proven methods by which to mentor and educate males so that they thrive. Michael has been called “the people’s philosopher” for his ability to dynamically combine cutting edge science with stories from people’s everyday lives. He was one of the first child advocates to name the developmental crises boys and men face in today’s changing and high-pressure world. This initial activism led to the founding of the Gurian Institute, a science-based organization whose innovations are used worldwide. As he brings this material and experience to life in this keynote, Michael will provide a new logic model for ensuring healthy male development in our Arizona communities. To learn more about Michael’s work, please click www.michaelgurian.com. To register for the Arizona Helping Boys Thrive Summit, click here.

EVENT HOST
Tim Wright

Tim Wright has been a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 1984. In 2005 he started Community of Grace, in Peoria, AZ. He’s authored five books, including his most recent–Searching for Tom Sawyer: How Parents and Congregations Can Stop the Exodus of Boys from Church, and has trained pastors and church leaders throughout the US and around the world. Along with Michael Gurian he co-created the rite of passage program: Following Jesus: A Heroic Quest for Boys. He and his wife, Jan, raised a daughter and a son. They are now happily investing their lives in their 4 grandchildren.