January 15, 2003

Troy State University to host African-American Leadership Conference Feb. 7-8

“Leadership: Building Strong Families and Communities” is the theme for the second annual African-American Leadership Conference at Troy State University, Feb. 7-8.

The conference, which is sponsored by TSU’s Institute for Leadership Development, is designed to teach specific skills associated with effective leadership.

This year, the opening session featuring the keynote address by noted speaker and author Patricia Russell-McCloud will be open to the public at a cost of $10 per ticket. The session will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, in the Adams Center Theatre. Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. will give an official welcome to open the session, followed by the invocation by the Rev. S.D. James, and greetings from Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford.

Russell-McCloud is president of Russell-McCloud & Associates, a speaking association based in Atlanta, Ga. A native of Indianapolis, Ind., she is a graduate of Kentucky State University and Howard University School of Law.

A gifted speaker, Russell-McCloud was named as one of the top five business motivators in America by “Black Enterprise” magazine. She is the immediate Past National President of The Links, Inc. and The Links Foundation, Inc. The Links is a 52-year-old civic-minded organization made up of 12,000 African-American women who provide volunteer service.

On Feb. 8, sessions will cover leadership issues related to “Building Healthy Families,” “Building Educated Families,” “Grant Writing, Faith-Based Initiatives” and “Budgeting, Finance and Home Ownership.”

The event will conclude with a luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. at the Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor, featuring a concert by the Troy State University Gospel Choir under the direction of Jimmy Cooper.

Dr. Yvonne Kennedy will deliver the keynote address during the closing session.

Early registration, received by Jan. 21, is $25. Registration cost after Jan. 21 is $30. For further information about the conference, contact the TSU Institute for Leadership Development at 670-3399.