During the first weekend of Black History Month, UF students gathered Saturday at Ustler Hall for a leadership conference.
The James E. Scott Black Student Leadership Conference encouraged students to help the African American population in the U.S. as a whole and hone their leadership skills.
The all-day conference, put on by the Institute of Black Culture, was open to students. Students listened to three featured speakers and attended three workshop sessions.
One of the speakers, education consultant and lecturer Brian Favors, said after his speech that he wants to make students aware of issues that plague the black population, such as poverty rates and the number of black Americans in jail.
Nickelle Smith, a telecommunication sophomore, said this event was different than past leadership events she's attended.
"The message black students hear is usually to go to college and become successful," she said. "It's not to give back, which is what they said here."
Melissa Clarke, an 18-year-old health science freshman, writes down websites that will help her prepare for an interview at the 10th Annual Black Student Leadership Conference on Saturday afternoon.
