African American High School Students Gather at Colorado State’s Black Issues Forum June 27-29

Note to Editors: Reporters are welcome to cover the sessions of the Black Issues Forum. For more information or to schedule interviews with participants, contact Michelle Bouie at (970) 491-6431.

Dozens of African American high school students will tackle issues facing the Black community during the tenth annual Black Issues Forum at Colorado State University on June 27-29. The Office of Admissions and Undergraduate Recruitment at Colorado State University sponsor the event.

The program brings together high school students from Colorado, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. Research topics will focus on the African American male graduation rate from higher education institutions; black wealth in America; the skin color issue within the Black community; the use of hip-hop language and other social issues.

The forum involves three days of workshops and research that culminate in an open dialogue format where participants share their ideas, research, and solutions. This format is designed to help students strengthen their skills in public speaking, teamwork, and leadership.

"The Black Issues Forum encourages students to express their voice, values, and vision for the Black community," said Michelle Bouie, Black Issues Forum Planning Committee Member, and Assistant Director of Admissions at Colorado State University. "Students emerge from this program prepared to become positive leaders and set trends in their communities."

Bouie also said that setting the forum on a college campus helps to make higher education a more exciting and realistic possibility for participants.

The Forum will offer workshops on research and writing techniques, as well as several discussion topics including "Why it’s Great to be Young, Black, and in America," facilitated by Craig Chesson, Assistant Director of Housing at Colorado State University. Participants will also take part in a talent show and awards ceremony.

For more information on this year’s Black Issues Forum, contact Michelle Bouie at (970) 491-6431.

The following is schedule of events set to take place on the Colorado State campus June 27-29.

Thursday, June 27, 2002

  • 5:15 – 6:45 a.m.Pick up students at designated areas in Denver
  • 9:30 – 10:00 a.m. Program Registration Campus Kaleidoscope Ammons Hall
  • 10:15 a.m. Welcome Michelle Bouie, Assistant Director Office of Admissions Dr. Peter Nicholls, Provost/Academic Vice President
  • 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Mary Ontiveros, Executive Director, Office of Admissions Kickoff Speaker Tracey Raiford, Manager of High School Relations Daniels College Prep and Scholarship Program
  • 10:45 – 11:00 a.m.Staff Introductions
  • 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.Icebreakers Colorado State University Oval
  • 11:30 – 12:15 p.m. Walking Tour of Campus
  • 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. Check-in Corbett Residence Hall
  • 12:30 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch – Corbett Residence Hall
  • 1:30 – 1:45 p.m. Program Overview – Room 228 LSC
  • 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. Dialogue Guidelines – Room 228 LSC
  • 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Topic Assignments Small Group discussion/team building activity Room 207 – Hip Hop Language: Is it all "Good" or "Wack"? Rooms 203-205 LSC -Black Wealth in America – Myths or Reality? Rooms 213-215 LSC – The Blacker the Berry, the Sweeter the Juice Rooms 214-216 LSC – Where Have All the Brotha’s Gone?
  • 3:30 – 3:45 p.m. Break
  • 3:45 – 5:00 p.m. Small groups by topic Topic and Research areas Outline Rough Draft – Rooms previously assigned LSC
  • 5:15 – 8:00 p.m. City Tour of Fort Collins Departs from south side of Lory Student Center Cookout – Corbett Plaza
  • 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Recreation Center
  • 10:30 p.m. Lights Out

Friday, June 28, 2002

  • 7:30 – 8:15.m. Breakfast – Corbett Residence Hall
  • 8:30 – 8:45.m. Speaker Dr. Teresa Y. Neely, Head of Library Reference University of Maryland, Baltimore County Lory Student Center Sculpture Gardens
  • 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Morgan Library Orientation Rooms 165 and 166 – Morgan Library
  • 10:00 -12:00 p.m. Library Research – Morgan Library
  • 12:00 -1:00 p.m. Lunch – North Ballroom LSC BIF Alumni Panel Mindy Nichols, Moderator, Admissions Counselor Shawanna Kimbrough – BIF Alumna 1995 Yoshica Chapman – BIF Alumna 1995 Shahada Abdal-Rahman – BIF Alumna 1999 Yoseph Assefa – BIF Alumnus 1999
  • 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. Admissions Overview April Juarez, Admissions Counselor, Office of Admissions Room 228 LSC
  • 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Writing Workshop Dr. Mike Palmquist, Professor of English Colorado State University Writing Center Room 228 LSC
  • 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Library Research – Morgan Library
  • 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Dinner – Corbett Residence Hall
  • 6:45 – 8:45 p.m. Finalize and Practice Presentations Computer time LSC Rooms previously assigned
  • 9:00 – 11:30 p.m. Talent Show and Dance Lory Student Center lower-level Commons Area

Saturday, June 29, 2002

  • 7:15 – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast- Corbett Residence Hall
  • 8:15 – 8:45 a.m. "Why It’s Great to be Young, Black and in America" Craig Chesson, Assistant Director of Housing North Ballroom LSC
  • 8:45 – 9:15 a.m. Finishing Touches LSC Rooms previously assigned
  • 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. FORUM LSC Theater & East Ballroom
  • 11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Break
  • 11:15 -12:45 p.m. FORUM LSC Theater & East Ballroom
  • 12:45 – 1:00 p.m. Feedback from faculty/staff advisers Program Evaluations Rooms previously assigned LSC
  • 1:15 – 3:00 p.m. AWARDS LUNCHEON Keynote Speaker Dana Hughes Black Issues Forum Alumna 1993 West & Middle Ballrooms
  • 3:30 p.m. Check out of Corbett Residence Hall (Leave room keys at the Front Desk) Depart Colorado State University