2024 State of Black Shreveport Symposium
February 23rd kicks off a weekend of Black Power, Perspective and Perseverance with The State of Black Shreveport. The 2024 State of Black Shreveport is a two-day event scheduled for February 23-24, 2024, at Robinson Film Center and Southern University Shreveport Louisiana. We have carefully curated this year’s event by inviting accomplished, adept and critically acclaimed panelists with National and Global reach, who are either Shreveport natives or have strong ties to the city. Embodying the theme – Celebrating That Which Is Uniquely Ours - The State of Black Shreveport team is excited to have your presence at this year’s event.
The goal of the State of Black Shreveport is to inform, educate, mobilize and strategize toward a common agenda that will create a paradigm shift and progressive agenda to improve the current social, cultural, political and economic conditions affecting Black Shreveport. This forum will serve as the foundation for further community action that will raise the per capita income of African Americans in the city, while building a community enveloped in Black Economic Power; bolster Black Entrepreneurship by increasing access to potential investors, venture capitalists and banking institutions; create a powerful Black voting base that will dominate the city’s political landscape; increase racial unity and Black Pride; improve cultural, social and community cohesion; and organize the Black community by identifying shared problems and finding mutually beneficial solutions.
This year's event will open with the film screening of HBO Original documentary South to Black Power by New York Times Bestseller Charles Blow at Robinson Film Center. This Opening Night event will include an Artist Talk, Q&A and Book Signing with Charles Blow; and a Welcome Reception. The theme of the State of Black Shreveport: Celebrating That Which Is Uniquely Ours, seeks to reinvigorate the intelligentsia and elevate the economic consciousness, growth and development of Shreveport's African American community. It will encompass a Film Screening on Friday, February 23rd; and State of Black Shreveport Panel Discussion and Awards Luncheon at Southern University Shreveport Louisiana on Saturday, February 24th. The Luncheon will honor local trailblazers and icons in Black Shreveport society. State of Black Shreveport 2024 will help create the Black wealth blueprint for Black Economic and Political Power and building Black generational wealth.
Celebrating What is Uniquely Ours
We are excited to announce that the State of Black Shreveport will host a Weekend of Power beginning on February 23, 2024. This event will feature illuminating workshops and presentations from respected voices in the Black community. We aim to create a multimedia platform to spread awareness, provide solutions, and ultimately motivate our people to improve their quality of life. We believe that investing in ourselves is essential to progress, and we hope you join us in celebrating the rich culture and legacy of the Black community.
Schedule of Events
Friday February 23,2024
12:00 noon " The Cash Mob"
7:00 pm - Documentary Viewing and Reception " South to Black Power"
Robinson Film Center
617 Texas Street
Shreveport, LA 71103
Saturday, February 24, 2024
11th Annual State of Black Shreveport Symposium
8:00 am Continental Breakfast
9:00 am Opening Program
10:00am Panel Discussion " Visionary Economic Planning for Blavk Shreveport "
1:00 pm - SOBS Heritage Luncheon
3050 Martin Luther King Blvd
The Alphonse Jackson Building ( Atrium )
Sunday, February 25, 2024
11:00am - SOBS Worship Service
Morning Star Baptist Church
1:00 pm SOBS Special Program and Reception ( Immediately Following Service )
Honoring Founder Lynn Cawthorne
This is the State of Black Shreveport
State of Black Shreveport Symposium
State of Black Shreveport Symposium and Economic Summit launched its inaugural gathering on February 18, 2012, at the historic Booker T. Washington High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. This organization and annual symposium, being the brainchild of Founder Lynn D. Cawthorne, is a gathering of Business, Community Leaders, Education Advocates, Elected Officials, Clergy, and everyday citizens. Its purpose is to discuss issues facing the local Black Community and how we work collectively to form solutions.
The State of Black Shreveport aims to promote continuous activities
that foster community engagement - while mobilizing all segments of the African American community - by addressing issues in the following critical areas:
-
Media and Technology
-
Business Development and Business Opportunity
-
Crime and Violence
-
Education Access and Resources
-
Health Disparities
-
Economic Opportunity
-
Politics and Policymaking
-
Spirituality, Religion and the Church in the 21st Century
-
Youth Engagement and Leadership Development
-
Voting Patterns
In 2012, Shreveport’s Black Community was facing declining test scores at local neighborhood schools, a spike in the crime rate, widening disparities in healthcare outcomes, and a lack of access to capital for small business start-ups. Over the last 11 years, the State of Black Shreveport has worked diligently with our local neighborhood schools to raise money for scholarships, ACT/SAT test prep, college prep seminars, and sponsoring “Trunk Parties” for first-generation college students which provided students with a trunk (footlocker) filled with supplies a freshman college student would need their first semester in college. In an effort to promote Black-owned businesses, the organization launched “The Cash Mob” - a program that promotes black-owned businesses through radio and television publicity campaigns. This program targets a particular business and creates an influx of new customers on a designated date. State of Black Shreveport has sponsored several Cash Mobs of these over the years.
The State of Black Shreveport has partnered with local elected officials and law enforcement to sponsor crime prevention events. Additional partnerships include local and national banking institutions to establish a revolving loan pool that provides capital to small businesses. SOBS has sponsored entrepreneurship seminars and is in the process of creating a Black Economic Development Think Tank.
In 2024, the State of Black Shreveport remains committed to our local community and continually looking for ways to address the mammoth challenges that our community faces. Our motto remains “ If you improve Black Shreveport, you improve all of Shreveport. "
Upcoming Events
SPONSORS
This event would not be possible without the extreme graciousness of our community partners! Contact us to learn more about how you can contribute to the cause.
_edited.jpg)
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Join our mission to make a difference in the local Black Community. Sign up to volunteer today and create positive change in our community.
