Spring Break
Black Caucus holds 'Ujima' at Foothill
Annual leadership conference focuses on work, collective responsibility
Akilah Parks
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: News
Community college student leaders of African Descent are expected to attend the 11th Annual Black Caucus Leadership Conference (ABCLC) being held at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills Feb 13-14, 2009.
This year's conference theme is "Ujima: Utilizing the Power of Education for Collective Empowerment." Ujima is Swahili for "collective work and responsibility." We continue to commemorate the organization's history and growing legacy.
The conference is sponsored by the Black Caucus of the California Student Association for Community Colleges (CalSACC), a statewide student-run advocacy organization for community college students of African Descent, and other under-served populations.
According to Black Caucus Vice-President Kelly Gordon, "This year is one of the most historical years yet. We have elected our first African American President, Barack Obama and an African American NFL coach named Mike Tomlin who just won Super Bowl XLIII. As African Americans, we continue to break racial barriers."
Ujima will help African American students in the California Community College system do just that, be empowered to lead in education, according to President Marlene C. Hurd.
Hurd was elected at the 9th Black Caucus conference at Laney College in Oakland, and subsequently re-elected at last year's conference at El Camino College. She sees this year conference as one of "historical significance."
"With election of our first African American President, students should see this as a glass ceiling being broken," said Hurd. "Students must believe in themselves in order to achieve their educational goals, and this 'Ujima' conference emphasizes the need to work together for quality education that empowers ourselves and our communities."
The conference features a weekend filled with inspiring keynote speakers, enlightening entertainment and empowering presentations.
This year's keynote speakers are former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, the 2008 U.S. Green Party Presidential Candidate, and California Community Colleges Board of Governors member Bobby McDonald.
Education session presenters include former Black Caucus President and Managing Editor of the Harambee Newspaper Reginald James, Baayan Bakari, educator, writer, producer and director of "Equinox" the movie, and Kirk Nugent, "Pursue your Passion".
And Black students will lead the way for future generations.
"We are empowering others by teaching them how to lead," said Gordon. •H•
This year's conference theme is "Ujima: Utilizing the Power of Education for Collective Empowerment." Ujima is Swahili for "collective work and responsibility." We continue to commemorate the organization's history and growing legacy.
The conference is sponsored by the Black Caucus of the California Student Association for Community Colleges (CalSACC), a statewide student-run advocacy organization for community college students of African Descent, and other under-served populations.
According to Black Caucus Vice-President Kelly Gordon, "This year is one of the most historical years yet. We have elected our first African American President, Barack Obama and an African American NFL coach named Mike Tomlin who just won Super Bowl XLIII. As African Americans, we continue to break racial barriers."
Ujima will help African American students in the California Community College system do just that, be empowered to lead in education, according to President Marlene C. Hurd.
Hurd was elected at the 9th Black Caucus conference at Laney College in Oakland, and subsequently re-elected at last year's conference at El Camino College. She sees this year conference as one of "historical significance."
"With election of our first African American President, students should see this as a glass ceiling being broken," said Hurd. "Students must believe in themselves in order to achieve their educational goals, and this 'Ujima' conference emphasizes the need to work together for quality education that empowers ourselves and our communities."
The conference features a weekend filled with inspiring keynote speakers, enlightening entertainment and empowering presentations.
This year's keynote speakers are former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, the 2008 U.S. Green Party Presidential Candidate, and California Community Colleges Board of Governors member Bobby McDonald.
Education session presenters include former Black Caucus President and Managing Editor of the Harambee Newspaper Reginald James, Baayan Bakari, educator, writer, producer and director of "Equinox" the movie, and Kirk Nugent, "Pursue your Passion".
And Black students will lead the way for future generations.
"We are empowering others by teaching them how to lead," said Gordon. •H•
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