In 2011, YPN-ULEM established an Annual Leadership Development Conference (LDC) to provide opportunities for young professionals enhance their personal and professional development skills in order to advance in leadership and their career paths. The conference is designed to address issues related to educational, personal and professional development. Additionally, this conference serves as a program for the National Urban League Young Professionals Day of Empowerment, a nationwide service activity held in conjunction with the National Urban League Guild. 

WINNER: 2013 Be A Better Bud Program Award

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8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

REGISTRATION OPEN

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

OPENING PLENARY: Stepping Out On Faith

Ever been fearful of taking the next step? Concerned that taking that next step may lead to failure? This plenary session will explore the journey of one person who has “Stepped Out On Faith” and what they learned from their experience.

Keynote Speaker:  Ayanna Pressley; Boston City Councilor At-Large

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

SESSION #1 WORKSHOPS

The Walking Debt

YP’s today are walking with debt, crushing their chances from realizing generational wealth for themselves and their family. Between student loans, rent and credit card debt this interactive workshop will show you how to manage your debt, eventually overcome it and invest wisely.

Moderator:  Cheryl Gelzer Alexis; Director of Human Resources, Associate Director of Athletics, Harvard University

Panelists:  Michelle Brathwaite; Regional Vice President, Primerica Advisors / Jordan Stewart; President, Board Chair, P.A.Y.T.E.N’s Village; Business Relationship Manager, Citizens Bank

Rising and Falling In Leadership

Entry level does not necessarily mean beginner. You can add value and leadership to your workplace despite your title. This workshop will empower you to undertake leadership roles in your professional and personal life and manage a diverse team.

Moderator:  Priscilla Kelangi; YPN-ULEM Member

Panelists:  Darnell L. Williams; President & CEO, ULEM / Nancy Rousseau; Director of Development, ULEM / Jemar T. Ward; Executive Vice President, NULYP

26 Hours A Day / 8 Days A Week

Work until 5 PM; Rush to YPN-ULEM meeting at 6; Hit the gym around 9 PM; Study for GMAT until you pass out. Today’s YP is short on time but jam-packed on activities. This workshop will help you manage your increasingly busy schedule and rising stress level while keeping time for you.

Moderator:  Greta A. Douglas; Motivational Speaker/Coach/Trainer & Author

Panelists:  Charlene Luma, MSW, LICSW; Program Director, Boston Trauma Response; Secretary, NULYP / Tiffany Wilson, M. Div.; Author, "#GetEngaged With Yourself & Win!" / Carlos Clanton; President, NULYP

IDEA INCUBATOR: From Theory to Reality

Do you have an idea that never seems complete? Have you attempted to put your idea on paper but it doesn’t seem to come to fruition as you imagined? This interactive workshop will not only help you realize your idea on paper but it will also show you how to effectively compose your idea for possible external stakeholders. (*pre-registered attendees only*)

Presenter:  LV Randolph III; Founder & CEO, Cambridge Argillite Inc.

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

SESSION #2 WORKSHOPS

Pitch Perfect

You only have 30 seconds to make an impression – what image do you want to leave?  Learn how to give the right impression the first time and create the perfect elevator speech for personal or business in this interactive workshop made for the novice public speaker.

Presenter:  Larry Young; Sun Life Financial

21 Days To Success

The” 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is a great book to read but where do you start? This interactive workshop will explore the anecdote that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit and what you can do to create patterns for success.

Presenter:  William Watkins; Workforce Development Manager, ULEM

Rising Up the Ranks

Today’s work environment has become increasingly multigenerational. Learning how to navigate your career is now more important than ever. This workshop will provide the tools and techniques to successfully manage your career and interactions within this diverse workforce.

Moderator:  Detective Lieutenant Debra A. De Rise; Commander of the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, Massachusetts State Police

Panelists:  Christopher Smith; Human Resources Manager, Manufacturing Diversity Program Chair, Kroger / Rahshib Thomas, SHRM-CP; Principal Consultant, RT Consulting / Carlos Clanton; President, NULYP

IDEA INCUBATOR: Back To Square One

Now that you have your idea laid out it’s time to tear it down…and make it better. This interactive team session will guide participants in a strategic and contingency planning exercise designed to put their ideas to the test of reality and restructuring their ideas where appropriate. (*pre-registered attendees only*)

Presenter:  Anna Foster; Business Entrepreneur, A Maven's World

1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

BUSINESS LUNCHEON:  There's Levels To This

You have mastered your “Perfect Pitch” and you got the business card -but where do you go from here? This lunch plenary session will provide tips and techniques to elevate your networking skills to the next level for yourself and your business.

Keynote Speaker:  Monica Cost; Chief Pathfinder, Author & Speaker, MCE LLC

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

NETWORKING POWER HOUR

An high-energy networking session for conference attendees and sponsor companies to interact - allowing attendees an opportunity to put into practice what they have just learned from the Business Luncheon.

*** Grand Prize: Airfare & Paid Registration to NUL Conference 2016 in Baltimore, MD ***

3:30 PM – 4:45 PM

SESSION #3 WORKSHOPS

Double Standards

Has the glass ceiling really been broken? Or did they just raise it higher? Being a minority and/or a woman in the workplace presents its’ own unique set of obstacles. Learn to navigate and succeed in this new workplace landscape.

Moderator:  Christopher R. Simon; Youth Development & Education Chair, YPN-ULEM

Panelists:  Christopher Smith; Human Resources Manager, Manufacturing Diversity Program Chair, Kroger / Brenda Cole; Vice President of Marketplace Inclusion Development, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care / Janelle Woods-McNish; Director of Service and Giving, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation

Success....Delayed

Failure does not have to be the end….but it can be the first step to success. This workshop will help participants understand the power of confidence in self, persistence of your plan and learning the failure is an option.

Presenter:  Rahshib Thomas, SHRM-CP; Principal Consultant, RT Consulting

#BuyBlackYourCommunity – NULYP National Day of Empowerment Sponsored Workshop:

Please join me, Tracey Syphax, Author/Entrepreneur & 2014 White House Champion of Change, for an interactive discussion on entrepreneurship. Why, because, owning a business is a more probable path of creating wealth then working as an employee. Moreover, this transformation pursuit is available for anyone, notwithstanding, their current economic standing, education, or background. However, what is essential to becoming a successful entrepreneur is a clearly defined plan, strategic relationships, courage and the will to win. I look forward to sharing with you my story of success........

Presenter:  Tracey D. Syphax; Entrepreneur/Author; "From the Block to the Boardroom"

IDEA INCUBATOR: 3, 2, 1, Launch!

You have conceived and realized your idea, assessed its viability in various circumstances, and rebuilt accordingly. Are you prepared to present the finished product? This workshop will provide the participant tools and insights on how to successfully present your idea to external stakeholders. (*pre-registered attendees only*)

Moderator:  Adetola Olatunji; Associate, Urban Initiatives at ICIC

Panelists:  LV Randolph III; Founder & CEO, Cambridge Argillite Inc. / Diana Vertus; Founder & CEO, Exquisite Design Concepts / Brandon Ransom; Co Founder, Techtrition / Katia Powell; Co Founder, Techtrition / Camille Simpkins; Small Business Loan Officer, Citizens Bank

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

CLOSING PLENARY:  From Oscar Grant to DJ Henry and Sandra Bland: Behind the Civil Unrest and the School To Prison Pipeline

Even as the American economy grows and creates jobs, young people of color in many communities are more likely to land in jail than in a good job or college. This panel will explore how the current civil unrest is rooted in larger problems – inequality, systemic racism, still-segregated schools, economic disparities, chronic unemployment, and mass incarceration. With the goal of universal civil rights in mind, speakers will dissect this interplay of ills and discuss real solutions. 

Moderator: Cheryl Crawford; Executive Director, MassVOTE

Panelists: Dianne Wilkerson; Former State Senator, Community Activist, Massachusetts / Joseph Bostic Jr., MS, MBA; Assistant Director of Communication & Outreach, Northeastern University John D. O'Bryant African American Institute / Curtis Rollins; Director of Organizing, Boston Workers' Alliance / Michael Curry; President, Boston NAACP / Tracey D. Syphax; Author/Entrepreneur