HU Black Family Conference to Focus on Mind, Body and Spirit

HU Black Family Conference to Focus on Mind, Body and Spirit Hampton University will host the 32nd Annual Conference on the Black Family on March 17-19. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Holistic Black Family: Mind, Body and Spirit” and will feature discussions on African American families in the areas of education, health and physical fitness and spirituality. The College of Education and Continuing Studies will sponsor the event. On March 17, the conference begins with “Let the Man Speak” Preconference Workshop at 9 a.m. – noon. This preconference workshop will explore this issue and will provide participants with specific strategies for empowering young African American males to achieve maximal success in school. That evening, the conference formally launches with the Opening Ceremony at 7 p.m. in Ogden Hall. The keynote speaker for the event will be Dr. Calvin Mackie, an award-winning mentor, an internationally renowned motivational speaker and a successful entrepreneur. The event is free and open to the public. The conference continues March 18 with a focus on children, featuring a STEM-Tastic Youth Summit. In conjunction with area partners such as NASA and the Virginia Air and Space Museum, the STEM-Tastic Youth Summit will feature hands-on workshops for area youth centered on the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. “The conference will be an educational health & wellness event for the entire family. We want to connect people who are interested in making a positive difference in their own lives and in their communities,” said dean Dr. Cassandra Herring. On March 18-19, adult participants will attend concurrent sessions on spiritual reconciliation, global leadership and social entrepreneurship, and healthy marriages. The conference will culminate in a luncheon called “Big Mama: A Salute to Grandmothers Luncheon.” Tickets for the luncheon are $30. The registration fee for the conference is $55 for adults, $25 for mature adults age 55 and older, $10 for non-HU students, and free for HU students, faculty and staff. For more information or to register to attend, call (757) 637-2036 or (757) 727-5584.