College Station, Texas – January 19-22, 2017

Submitted by: Angelique Price, Black Student Alliance member

In 1988, pioneering collegians at Texas A&M University created a forum by which African American students in the southwest could gather to address the problems and concerns facing the Black community. The Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference is held each January, uniting hundreds of students and advisors, nationally renowned speakers and a variety of corporations from around the country.

This year’s theme, “Activating the Vision,” incorporated a bit of history, ways to improve networking and leadership skills, as well as learning techniques for self-improvement. The two featured speakers included Brian Banks, with his message of “power of choice.” Brian is a former high school football standout who was wrongly convicted of sexual assault. The keynote speaker, Angela Rye, a CNN political commentator and board member of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, concluded the conference. Participants who have attended this conference previously were encouraged to consider attending the ALI (Advanced Leadership Institute) track, with Charles E. Williams. This session was intended for experienced student leaders who have demonstrated their abilities at their own respective colleges. They were also encouraged to participate in the Oratorical Contest aimed at challenging and stimulating their minds, and providing the opportunity to display their ability to speak and interpret their ideas on specific subjects.

Overall, participants had an opportunity to gain knowledge to enhance their leadership, education, and activism beyond the classroom, and network with like-minded individuals from Texas and beyond.