This year will be Northern Illinois University's 10^th Annual African American Leadership Conference.  This year’s conference is scheduled from April 1-4. This year's theme is "The Rebirth of Black Consciousness."   The conference is the largest student run conference in the State of Illinois.  The AALC was created with the vision of providing a format for ambitious college students to develop and enhance their leadership skills, while simultaneously addressing current issues affecting our society.  Student volunteers who totally organize and present a four day conference of workshops, seminars, and speakers from a variety of respected fields meet this goal.

            The history of the conference includes powerful speakers, such as Dr. Cornel West of Harvard University, Civil Rights Activist Dick Gregory, South African Member of Parliament Winnie Mandela and Congressman Danny Davis.  This year’s AALC is expected to be just as exciting.  On the agenda are a variety of programs.  They range from a concert by NIU Black Choir to a teen summit geared towards enlightening Chicago Area high school students. 

             Some of the invited speakers include Dr. Asa Hilliard of Georgia State University, Denine Milner and Nick Chiles who specialize in African American relationships, Dr. Claud Anderson, Sister Souljah, cartoonist Aaron McGruder, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters.  Northern Illinois University, The Center for Black Studies, and the African American Leadership Conference Planning Committee are committed to developing and maintaining a strong presence in the Areas of Unity and Diversity.  This year’s conference will facilitate the process of enlightening the campus community with perspectives geared towards that of African-Americans and other marginalized groups.