On Wednesday October 24, 2018, the Alabama Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA) in conjunction with the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) hosted its inaugural Alabama HBCU Competitiveness Convening at City Club Birmingham in Birmingham, AL. The invitation-only Convening consisted of a high-level discussion among Alabama’s HBCUs, top companies across Alabama, the State of Alabama, and the federal government, and took place as the state prepares to host the biggest HBCU classic in the nation with the annual The Magic City Classic, between longtime rivals Alabama State University and Alabama A&M University.
Alabama has the largest number of HBCUs in the nation. “With HBCUs severing as a leader in graduating minority students with STEM related bachelor’s degree, and with the recent economic growth in Alabama’s tech, aerospace and automotive industries, the time is ripe for a conversation regarding the aligning of the priorities of Alabama’s HBCUs, the State’s private sector, along with the priorities of the State of Alabama and the federal government,” stated Nichelle Nix, Director of the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs, State of Alabama.
The Convening featured a welcome and remarks by Director Nichelle Nix, an announcement by Governor Kay Ivey, an overview of Alabama’s economic priorities by Secretary Greg Canfield, an overview of Alabama’s labor priorities by Secretary Fitzgerald Washington, and a presentation by Johnathan Holifield, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs, followed by a panel discussion with Alabama HBCU leaders and leaders in the private sector representing Alabama’s top industries.
The Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA) was created in March 2016, and is a cabinet-level agency – a first in Alabama’s history. The mission of GOMA is to ensure the inclusion of women and minorities in the success and prosperity of the State of Alabama.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Tuesday, October 23rd 2018 at 8:02PM
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