The Countdown Begins

We would like to formally invite you to the University of Iowa Black Student Union’s 1st Revival Conference to be hosted the 11th and 12th of October at the Iowa Memorial Union in Iowa City. The University of Iowa Black Student Union hopes to bring together as many individuals from around Iowa and the surrounding areas. The purpose of the conference is to provide a forum for discussion about the communities that we live in today and to help participants gain a deeper understanding of their role in society.

The theme of the conference will be “Empowerment through African American Literature.” The conference will feature exciting opportunities for students around the Midwest to engage and communicate with one another and discuss the similar problems that they face today. There will be four possible tracks discussing leadership, literature, education, and engaging new allies, each including four approximately 45 minute-long presentations given by various University of Iowa faculty and staff members and many other African American leaders from around the state.

Our keynote speaker for the conference will be Ms. Terrie Williams, bestselling author and marketing and public relations expert. She is president of one of the most powerful black marketing and public relations agencies. She was recently featured in Essence magazine, in which she discussed her battle with depression. The 2005 article received the largest reader response in Essence history. Williams, who also has a Masters in social work, tells the untold story of depression among African Americans in her upcoming book, in which she also includes stories from celebrities, as well as ordinary people and psychologists, who want to help break the taboo of depression.

The conference will also include a unique oratory raffle. Participants are invited to write a 500-word essay to bring to the conference, which will be entered for a chance to win a prize and an opportunity to share their essay during the closing. The subject of the essay will be “What ‘EMPOWERMENT’ means to me.” The oratory challenge will not be a judged competition but rather a lottery style drawing.
The conference will also include a networking reception with the presenters and other persons of note, a pre-conference social, art exhibit, and a post-conference social. Dress for the conference will be business professional.