“Civic Men” Documentary Sparks Urgent Conversation on Male Engagement, Unity, and Leadership in Charlotte

At a recent panel, community leaders and filmmakers examined why men—particularly Black men—are increasingly absent from civic spaces, and what it will take to bring them back.

From Left to Right: Khary Earley, Sean Eldridge, and Patrick Ward at the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum on May 5, 2026.

A powerful conversation unfolded ahead of the May 23 premiere of Civic Men, a documentary led by filmmaker Sean Eldridge that confronts a growing concern: why men are no longer showing up in civic life the way previous generations once did.

Hosted by a panel of leaders including Eldridge, Patrick Ward, and Khary Earley, the discussion unpacked themes of burnout, fear, disconnection, and the urgent need for unity across communities and generations.

Eldridge, a retired federal agent and Air Force veteran, brings a deeply personal lens to the issue. Raised by nine uncles after an unstable childhood, he describes himself as “the epitome of it takes a village.” His career in Homeland Security—particularly in cases involving human trafficking—revealed to him the transformative power of storytelling.

But it was a different realization that sparked Civic Men: despite visible leadership in certain spaces, men were largely absent from school boards, city council meetings, and grassroots civic engagement.

“Men might show up to be the face of something,” Eldridge noted, “but they aren’t showing up in general.”

The film captures testimonies from men across backgrounds, with a consistent thread—exhaustion. Many are balancing the weight of being providers, mentors, and community figures, leaving civic participation to fall by the wayside. Yet, as Eldridge emphasized, these are the very systems shaping their daily realities, from taxation to housing disparities.

Patrick Ward, who appears in the film and serves as a regional director for Phi Beta Sigma, highlighted another barrier: fear. Fear of professional repercussions, of speaking truth to power, and of the unknown consequences tied to civic engagement.

“If we are afraid,” he said, “then the whole community is afraid.”

Ward also underscored the loss of generational wisdom, sharing a personal reflection following the passing of his uncle. The diminishing presence of elder voices, he argued, makes intentional knowledge-sharing spaces even more critical.

Khary Earley, a political action committee chairman and Morehouse graduate, framed the issue through the lens of unity and strategy. He likened the community to a body with strong individual organs but no connective tissue. “We have the heart, the lungs—but no skin,” he said, emphasizing that siloed efforts weaken collective impact.

For Earley, the solution lies in coordinated action and political leverage. “Power concedes nothing without leverage,” he stated, calling for alignment across organizations and initiatives to drive meaningful change.

The conversation also addressed the role of women in supporting this shift. When asked how women can contribute, panelists emphasized partnership over division. Ward called for continued support and mutual understanding, noting that both men and women are navigating shared challenges. Earley reinforced the importance of unity, pointing to the collective strength demonstrated by Black women in civic participation.

At its core, Civic Men is not just a film—it is a call to action. Eldridge envisions it as a catalyst, beginning in Charlotte but extending nationwide, with partnerships in schools and universities to ignite long-term civic interest.

The premiere, set for May 23 at Independent Picture House, aims to do more than draw an audience. It seeks to rebuild a culture of engagement—one where men not only lead in visible roles but actively participate in the systems that shape their communities.

As the panel made clear, the challenge is not a lack of leadership—but a lack of alignment, capacity, and sustained presence. And the solution, they argue, lies in something both simple and profound: showing up.