News Highlights

Pan-African Leadership Conference draws big names

33rd annual

The annual Pan-African Student Leadership Conference is jam-packed with a lineup of big-name talent.

2009-02-26
By Robb Murray, Free Press Staff Writer [published in The Free Press, Mankato, MN, 2/26/2009]

It comes every year, big and bold and jam-packed with a lineup of talent impressive enough for the toughest naysayer to do a doubletake at who's coming.

It's the annual Pan-African Student Leadership Conference, now in its 33rd year at Minnesota State University. It is one of the oldest such conferences in the state.

This year's conference, which runs through Saturday, examines economic, political, educational, social and cultural concerns of the Pan-African community. The theme is "Understanding and Respecting Diversity: Working Toward Unity and Global Peace."

Emmanuel Jal, who served as a child soldier in Sudan's civil war, will perform and speak at 7:30 p.m. today in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom.

The conference is intended to build student leadership, and to allow scholars, students, professionals and community members to discuss issues that affect African people locally, nationally and internationally.

Other speakers include:

• Leo Lewis, associate athletic director at the University of Minnesota, speaking about "The Impact of Black Athletes in College and Professional Sports," 11:15 a.m. Friday, CSU 150.
• Marvalene Hughes, president of Dillard University, New Orleans, La., speaking about post-Katrina rebuilding efforts, 12:15 p.m. Friday, CSU Ballroom.
• Chike Akua, one of Ebony magazine's "50 Leaders of Tomorrow," keynoting the Friday dinner, 6 p.m., CSU Ballroom.
• Alfred Powell, the "Dean of Street Psychology," explaining his research into street culture, "The Impact of Hip Hop on Society and the Pan African Community," 11:30 a.m. Saturday, CSU Ballroom.
• Sherrise Truesdale-Moore, MSU corrections faculty member, discussing "The State of Black Love," 3:15 p.m. Saturday, CSU 253.

The conference was founded in 1977 by Michael Fagin, MSU's vice president for Institutional Diversity, with support from Macalester College faculty member Mahmoud El-Kati and community leaders throughout southern Minnesota.

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