BGSU to host 26th annual Black Issues Conference focused on holistic well-being

Keynote speakers and workshops to address social, physical, financial, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness

Building on a 26-year legacy of sparking discussion and cultural enrichment, the Black Issues Conference returns to Bowling Green State University on Feb. 25. Open to the public, the conference invites the community to explore issues impacting Black Americans through interactive presentations and networking.

This year’s theme, "Black Well-Being: Caring for Ourselves and Our Communities," centers on a holistic approach to health. Attendees will engage with programming focused on social, physical, financial, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness.

“This year, the city of Bowling Green is serving as one of the sponsors of the event,” said Ana Brown, senior liaison of community, parent and family connections. “Sponsorship from the city and support from BGSU students, faculty and staff speak to the value of the Black Issues Conference as an educational opportunity for everyone in the region.”

Organized and presented by BGSU students, faculty and staff, the conference serves as a highly anticipated, annual professional development platform, attracting attendees from across the region – including students from John Carroll University near Cleveland and Terra State Community College in Fremont.

“It is an essential part of enhancing BGSU students’ education outside of the classroom,” Brown said. “Without their support and advocacy, we wouldn’t be able to put this conference on each year. The work our students put into the conference helps them apply skills to their organizations, their passion areas and their majors.”

This year’s keynote speakers include:

• Dawn Burks ‘96 – School counselor for Toledo Public Schools and member of the Rossford Exempted Village Schools Board of Education
• Sharonda Glover ‘06 – Vice president of marketing and communications at the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and principal consultant of Glover Disruptive, LLC
• Jimmie Hicks III ‘12 – Deputy director of responsible gambling at the Ohio Lottery Commission and director of planning for Start Right Community Development Corporation
• QuJuan Twilley ‘19 – Licensed clinical social worker, assistant director of the MSW program at The Ohio State University, and founder of Virtue Mental Health Studio