February 27 - March 1, 2009

Friday, February 27, 2009:

12:00pm – 5:00pm ---
Registration and Opening Activities

5:00pm – 6:00pm ---
Welcome Dinner, Afro-American Cultural Center

7:00pm – 8:30pm ---
Opening Ceremony, Yale University Art Gallery

10:00pm – 2:00am ---
Concert, Performers: The Cool Kids and Kid Cudi, Toad’s Place
Click Here for Flyer

10:00am – 11:30am ---
Volunteer Work

11:00am – 1:00pm ---
Lunch and Discussion, Afro American Cultural Center

1:00pm – 2:15pm ---
Workshop Block 1:

Young, Gifted, and Black: A Discussion of Blacks in Fashion and Entertainment:
Black identity is incomplete without an examination of how we portray ourselves and are simultaneously portrayed by others in the news, magazines, films and other forms of media. This panel seeks to address African Americans’ role in entertainment as trendsetters, innovators and trailblazers. Our panelists will explore the ways the media highlights and ignores blacks and their numerous achievements, missteps, and sometimes wrongdoings in the entertainment world.

Disrobed: An Exposé of Black Sexuality:
Black sexuality has and continues to occupy a peculiar space in the American imagination. Our goal is to examine and engage critically the many historical and contemporary notions that form popular conceptions of black sexuality. With our diverse panelists, we aim to discuss the issue from multiple vantage points with hopes to deconstruct and dismantle the numerous negative and false images as well as illuminate the oft neglected positive iterations of black sexuality.

2:30pm – 3:45pm ---
Workshop Block 2:

Keeping House: Analyzing the Black Family:
The family is undoubtedly the first and most often the strongest foundation in a person’s life. Acknowledging its importance, it comes as no surprise that many worry about the status of the modern family, specifically the black family which continues to face high levels of stress and pressure. In this panel, we seek to track the evolution of the black family and examine its plights as well as identify ways to strengthen it.

Amazing Grace: Spirituality and Wellness in the Black Community:
Although mental health issues greatly affect the black community, far too little discussion on the topic occurs, including what constitutes mental wellness, how to achieve and maintain it, and how to cope with illnesses. Additionally, the many ways spirituality and wellness intersect are rarely analyzed. In this panel, we hope to place the ideas of black spirituality and mental health in close critical conversation. Furthermore, we seek to examine how the many forms of spirituality and religiosity in the black community overlap with and affect the treatment of mental health and wellness.

4:00pm – 5:15pm ---
Workshop Block 3:

Courtside: Commentary on Blacks in Athletics:
Blacks comprise many of the top athletes of our time, yet the absence of black coaches and team owners is too obvious to ignore. This panel seeks to address the way in which African Americans play a vital role in the success of the sports industry and the challenges they continue to face despite their success. The distinguished panelists will offer insights into the new direction black athletes are heading and the roads that must still be paved.

Corner Office: Climbing the Corporate Ladder:
As we steadily approach life beyond the academy or “the real world, an examination of the career avenues available becomes very important. This panel explores the keys to success in a multitude of industries. With our esteemed panelists, we hope to discover ways to continue shattering the glass ceiling as well as shed light on the challenges black professionals still encounter. The discussion will provide models of upward professional mobility for students to use as they travel their own professional paths.

7:00pm – 10:00pm ---
Dinner with Manning Marable
Keynote Speaker Manning Marable, Omni Hotel at Yale
Click Here for Flyer

11:00am – 1:00pm ---
Closing Brunch

For a Microsoft Word version, please Click Here