The purpose of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) conference is to inspire and refocus the institutions to engage in community and economic development projects in their surrounding communities. The event will serve as a forum to discuss strategies and share information & perspectives on how institutions of higher education can best apply their skills, intellectual capital, and other resources to stabilize and strengthen our nation's urban and rural communities during these difficult times.

The HBCU conference will also showcase successful models that can be used to help stabilize and strengthen communities, and will provide an opportunity to network and establish contacts & partnerships with other potential funders. We'll also look at the impact that institutions of higher education are having in their communities, and at how they're maximizing resources, developing & nurturing collaborations with federal, state, and local entities, and continuing to build capacity while strengthening local communities.