Are African Americans getting left behind in the shift towards a digital economy? What are the opportunities for businesses to bridge the gap between the African-American community and success that others have found in the new economy? These and other questions will be addressed on the weekend of Friday, February 23, 2001 during the African-American Student Union (AASU) Annual Career/Alumni Conference, being held at HBS and the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
The events commence with Prospective Students’ Day, offering African-American men and women a glimpse at a day in the life of a Harvard Business School student. They will attend classes, have lunch with current students, meet with admission representatives, and have their questions answered. Friday night’s main activity includes live entertainment and an after-party event, providing ample opportunities for the weekend’s most popular pastimes – networking and socializing.
Saturday’s sessions include sessions on “Urban Technology and the Legislative Landscape”, “Understanding the Backbone of the New Economy”, and “Wired and Black: Career Development in the New Economy”. It also features the Second Annual Entrepreneurial Ventures Competition, an opportunity for entrepreneurs to have their business plans evaluated by a panel composed of venture capitalists. Saturday’s main events will be the addresses by Congressman Harold E. Ford, Jr. (D-Memphis) at the closing banquet and Keith T. Clinkscales, Chairman and CEO of Vanguarde Media during Saturday’s luncheon.
Congressman Ford, just 30 years of age, is actively pushing for radical change in the political system. Now in his fifth year as a congressman, Ford’s contributions include “The College Affordable Act of 1999” to help working families meet the rising costs of higher education and other efforts with the New Democrat Coalition and the Congressional Black Caucus.
Sunday morning will feature the popular Gospel Brunch. The basketball challenge, where alumni battle current AASU members, will be the exciting conclusion to what promises to be an intensely rewarding experience.
Alvin Bowles and Chrystal Stokes, both of MBA Class of 2001, are the co-chairs of this conference. As Stokes indicates, “It is our hope that the weekend’s activities will stimulate you intellectually, challenge your opinions and equip you with the tools to successfully navigate the new economy. Our goal is for the Conference to serve as a vehicle for the examination and implementation of new ideas and strategies that will enable us to triumph over the challenges placed before us along the path to success. We believe the messages delivered by our two exciting keynotes and the information shared by our panelists will enlighten everyone in attendance.”