Annual black family conference will be Feb. 26-27

This year’s conference, “The Dimensions of the Black Family in the 21st Century,” explores issues such as parental involvement, racial stereotypes, public perception, community involvement, politics and family relationships.

Highlights of the conference include:

· Two panel discussions moderated by journalist, writer and motivational speaker Betty Baye. The discussions will focus on how black families are portrayed in the media and the role of mothers and grandmothers in maintaining strong familial relationships.

· A talk by Kent School of Social Work professor Armon Perry about the important ways men influence the lives of their children and families.

· Breakout sessions focusing on topics that include “racial battle fatigue,” the changing political climate, police behavior toward African American men, mental health, spirituality and sexuality.

· An evening banquet Feb. 26 with a keynote address by author and activist Cornel West, who wrote the widely acclaimed books “Race Matters” and “Democracy Matters,” among others. He taught at Yale and Harvard universities and frequently speaks with national media on matters of race and democracy.

· A Feb. 27 luncheon talk about families by Timothy Findley Jr., pastor of a congregation at Kingdom Fellowship Christian Life Center, one of Louisville’s fastest-growing churches.

The conference will be at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2735 Crittenden Drive. Registration is required in advance and must be completed by Feb. 19. There will be no on-site registration.

Registration for the full conference is $200 and individual tickets for the dinner or luncheon are $100 each. Reduced registration rates are available for students.

For more information about the conference and to inquire about discounts, call 502-852-6656 or send an email to bfc@louisville.edu or visit the UofL Cultural Center’s website.