Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference Kicks Off Thursday
The 28th annual Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference (SBSLC) begins Thursday and continues through Sunday (Jan. 21-23) at Texas A&M University.
Conference Chair Danielle Sanders said SBSLC, one of the largest and most prestigious student-run collegiate leadership events in the nation, has as its goal continuing to empower students to excel academically and become productive leaders in their communities.
The theme for the 2016 conference is The Revolution: Walk with Us.
“This theme is a charge to take a stance by changing the narrative. Individually our efforts may be great, but collectively our community will thrive,” Sanders said. “Through meaningful dialogue and thought-provoking discourse, we can all join in the revolution. It is our hope that through this three-day conference, our participants are challenged and inspired to strive for professional, personal and academic growth.”
Since it began in 1989, SBSLC has brought together African-American students to address the issues facing the black community, hear speakers and attend workshops that focus on developing strong leadership skills as well as networking opportunities.
Highlights of this year’s conference include a play titled 50 years On – Soul of a Nation by Will and Company at 7 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 21) as part of the opening ceremony held in Bethancourt Ballroom in the MSC. Also on Saturday at the 12:30 p.m. lunch in Duncan Dinning Hall, the 5th Annual Ignite the Mic Poetry Slam will be hosted by Tro’juan Henderson, a nationally renowned performance poet. Saturday’s closing banquet keynote speaker will be Jeff Johnson, an MSNBC contributor, White House correspondent and an award-winning journalist. The banquet is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Bethancourt Ballroom.
The conference includes more than 50 workshops, a career fair featuring diverse companies that do business on virtually every continent and a vendor fair supporting small business entrepreneurs. A conference schedule is available here.
The Charles Williams II Advanced Leadership Institute (ALI) will be held on campus in conjunction with the conference. Organizers say the institute provides an additional opportunity for student leaders to engage in more in-depth discussions and increase their leadership preparation.
Conference planners say the legacy of SBSLC is the combination of knowledge with family, religion, culture and community — and using that combination as a tool to become leaders and productive members of society. They say they are dedicated to providing participants with an amazing experience, ensuring they leave the conference ready to positively impact their community, look toward the future without uncertainty or trepidation, and are ready to embrace the unknown.
For more information about the conference, presenters and workshops, and information about corporate sponsors and other activities, see http://sbslc.tamu.edu/home.
