Cal State Northridge's Family Focus Empowerment Center is joining with the Men's Center of Los Angeles to host a daylong conference designed to help men find the tools to balance all of life's demands on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the university.

"Rejuvenation, Support and Renewal: A Day for Men to Find Support in a Community of Men" will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Grand Salon of the University Student Union on the east side of the campus off Zelzah Avenue.

"In this fast-paced culture, it seems that there is little time to catch one's breath and gather one's wits," said Ivor Weiner, an assistant professor of special education at Cal State Northridge and director of CSUN's Family Focus Empowerment Center. "With family and relationship challenges, school, job or career pressures as well as increasing financial demands, men often complain that they feel burdened and can't keep up and that they feel like they are falling behind. Much is expected and men often express that they wish they had a place to share these concerns with others who can understand. We hope with the conference to provide them with such a place."

The day's topics include family, relationships, physical health, emotional well-being, careers, aging and spirituality. Keynote speaker Stephen Johnson, founder of the Men's Center of Los Angeles and a psychotherapist and educator for more than 30 years, will share his understanding of what it means to be a "good man" in today's fast-paced culture.

"The conference provides an opportunity for men to be in the company of others who share similar interests and concerns," Weiner said. "In large group sessions and in small break-out sessions they will hear things they can identify with and they will be listened to and hopefully feel understood and come away with more self-awareness about how to improve their lives."

The conference is open to men 18 years and older and to young men between the ages of 15 and 17 if accompanied by a parent. Registration is $55, $45 for a CSUN student with ID, and includes a light breakfast, box lunch and afternoon snacks.

A limited number of scholarships are available for CSUN students. For more information about the scholarships, call (818) 677-2583.