Catching the wave of a national movement, the Tarrant County College 2013 African American Professionals Conference next month seeks to give participants the tools they need to transform their emotions into action.
Activism will be explored at the Eighth Annual Ariel Hunter-Chriss African American Professionals Conference Friday, Nov. 8, at TCC South Campus, 5301 Campus Drive.
The continental breakfast and registration begin at 7:45 a.m., with the opening session starting at 8:35 a.m.
Named for founder Ariel Hunter-Chriss, Continuing Education Services director at South Campus until her death in 2009, the purpose of the conference is to provide leadership strategies and tools for business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders to manage career challenges created by diversified and global competition.
Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III, D. Min., senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, is the keynote speaker at the 11:30 a.m. luncheon. Haynes, a board member of Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN), often is at the forefront of national issues hosting local rallies and sponsoring events such as a bus trip to attend the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington this summer.
“A lot of people get upset about various national issues and want to protest, but we want them to do more than wear their hoodies in protest,” said Alisa Jones, current CES director at South Campus. “We want them to learn how to get involved and help bring about real change.”
More information on how to get involved will be available at an afternoon discussion entitled “Hyped? Now What? Politics and Activism: Time to Stand Up.”
Panelists include Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks, attorney Bobby Edmonds and community activists Jonathan Morrison and E.W. Stiger
Other breakout session topics include “Trying to Escape? Overspending, Oversleeping and Overeating,” “It’s a Different Word: Non-Traditional Avenues to Completing Your Education,” “10 Things Women Should Know About Their Finances,” and “Mindset Matters.”
Efrem Zermil joins this year’s conference as the featured poet during the luncheon. “This is a serious conference designed to educate participants, but we also want to enlighten them in a different way,” Jones said.
The conference also provide an opportunity for contributions to be made to scholarship fund established in Chriss’ honor for children to attend TCC’s annual summer enrichment program, College for Kids.
Conference sponsors and partners include Jim Austin Online, Minority Leaders and Citizens Council, The University of Texas at Arlington, Unity One Credit Union, and Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County.
Registration for the conference is $99 for professionals and $49 for students. To register or get more information consult www.tccd.edu/AfricanAmericanProfessionals or call the South Campus Continuing Education Services Office at 817-515-4392.