About the conference

The Fifteenth National African American Student Leadership Conference continues its legacy of providing an intellectually stimulating, culturally enriching, and liberating experience for serious students interested in the advancement of the African American community. Conference workshops and scholarly presentations will address problems, causes, solutions and implementation strategies relative to political, social, educational, religious, physical/mental health issues, etc. of Black people.

Concerns of African American students on college campuses will continue to be a focus point. The struggles of Black students on predominantly white campuses/survival strategies, Shaping Mass Movements, and Building Progressive African American Student Organizations, as well as Connecting with Africa Black Female and Male Relationships and Hip-Hop and African American Leadership will be discussed and analyzed.

The theme of the 2009 Conference is “Holistically: Reclaiming Your Greatness”.  The Conference is scheduled to start at 8:00a.m. on Friday, January 16 and end late Saturday, January 17, 2009. The Conference will kick-off Friday morning with an opening keynote address by Dr. Jeffery Menzise, followed by all day concurrent workshops/panel discussions. A special Plenary session is scheduled for late Friday afternoon featuring Brotha Keepa”.  Friday’s activities will end with an after dinner keynote address by Dr. Joy DeGruy-Leary.  Saturday morning will start with a keynote address by Dr. Safisha Nzinga Hill.  The keynote address will be followed by series of student centered/lead breakout sessions focusing topics chosen by the participants.  Saturday evening will feature a national Black Spoken Word/Poetry Competition.  Dr. Julianne Malveaux will give the final keynote address Saturday evening, and the Conference’s formal program will conclude with African Drummers.

Concurrent Workshop Sessions Topics will include, but not limited to:

The Role of Hip-Hop and the Liberation Struggle; Popular Culture and the Black Liberation Struggle; Progressive Black Leadership Models; Surviving and Achieving on the Predominately White College Campus; Black Greek Lettered Organizations; Identity, Development and Black Mental Health; The Affirmative Action Debate; Spirituality and/or Religion in the Struggle; Black Female/Male Relationships: Nutricide: African American Health Issues; Education v. Mis-Education? The College Student and the Black Community; and Africa and the African American Struggle; Presidential Politics and Blacks.