By JENAE CAREY, CSU Public Relations Intern
The 44th annual Dr. Michael T. Fagin Pan African Student Leadership Conference at Minnesota State University, Mankato will again feature the conference’s namesake among its presenters.
This year, panelists and Dr. Fagin himself will be discussing voter’s rights through voter education.
Dr. Fagin formerly served as the vice president for The Institutional Diversity, and is also responsible for our Ethnic Studies Department on campus, MLK day and MLK boulevard in the cities.
He offers a first-person account about the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This 2020 conference will revisit moments in history that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the voice of the people being heard. Community members and future leaders will better understand the importance of voting laws and voter’s rights.
“It’s not just the Pan African community, it’s about educating all of us about whatever the theme is that particular year and how we can make a difference.”
KENNETH REID, DIRECTOR OR AFRICAN AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
Participants will also explore the implications of voter turnout, buy-in, and support of elected officials. As well as laws and policies not only on the national level but also on the local and state level.
The conference kicks off with a film that discusses all of the events that led up to the Voting Rights At of 1965 that gave a lot of colored people their chance to vote.
Following that will be a Pan African Royalty Competition which will include a fashion and talent show for students. The goal is to represent what it means to be Pan African royalty and what it means to represent the conference.
Kenneth Reid, Director of African and Multicultural Affairs and Minnesota State University, Mankato, says, “It’s not just the Pan African community, it’s about educating all of us about whatever the theme is that particular year and how we can make a difference.”
All students are welcome to join. The goal of the conference is to educate all about voting as well as encourage them to see themselves as political leaders and better our community.
