White House National HBCU Conference 2017

The annual conference will be held September 17-19. The White House has confirmed that the conference will be going on despite many leaders asking for the events to be post postponed.

Rep. Alma Adams, representing the 12th District of North Carolina. In an open letter to Trump, Adams wrote, in part:
"In light of recent events, I have reached the unfortunate conclusion that this year's 2017 National HBCU Week Conference should be postponed."

"Earlier this month, my colleagues and I asked the administration for an update on their progress regarding HBCUs. In February, the president signed an executive order outlining greater investments and additional resources for HBCUs. It has become painstakingly clear that these promises are not being kept."

"In this current environment, and with zero progress made on any of their priorities, it would be highly unproductive to ask HBCU presidents to come back to Washington. I call on the president and Secretary DeVos to postpone this year's conference until a serious effort has been made to advance issues important to HBCUs and their students."

Thursday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the three-day event remains on the calendar. We're at capacity with (HBCU) schools and have an extensive waiting list," said Sanders in response to a reporter's question about the call to postpone. Sanders indicated that the list of historically black schools remain committed to attending. Although asked, she did not comply with releasing a list of schools that plan to attend.

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund and United Negro College Fund have both written open letters to the White House to call for the postponement of the event, with concerns about the lack of an executive director and presidential board of advisors to the White House Initiative on HBCUs to frame the conference agenda and legislative outline for HBCUs.

I personally feel that the White House administration changes their mind and postpone the conference in light of the rally that happened in Charlottesville, VA and Now the Hurricane Harvey and the damage its left behind in Texas. Having a conference to discuss little to no progress and broken promises can wait.