Most activities and sessions for the March 7–10 event, “Family Reunion: Bridging the Past with the Present,” will be at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel, 500 Fourth St., except for a March 9 Youth Summit at the Red Barn, Belknap Campus.
The conference, now in its 40th year, is named in honor of its founder, a UofL professor and administrator who died in 2010.
Topics will include education, health and spiritual well-being and a discussion of social issues such as youth violence, said Lundeana Thomas, a UofL theater arts professor and one of the conference organizers.
Keynote speakers are:
- Steve Birdine, president and chief executive officer of Affirmation In Action and author of “A Common Sense Approach To Retaining Students of Color.”
- Hill Harper, an actor, author and activist known for his portrayal of Sheldon Hawkes in the CBS drama “CSI: NY” and as a Harvard University roommate to President Barack Obama. He is the author of four books; the most recent was the 2011 book “The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in Its Place.”
- Roland Martin, journalist, syndicated columnist and author of “Speak, Brother! A Black Man’s View of America.”
Registration is required for all conference events. Rates for the full conference are $250 before Feb. 15, $275 before March 6, and $300 on March 7. Attendees can register for the entire conference or for selected components. Vendors, exhibitors and presenters have until Feb. 22 to participate.
