Obama declares 2012 HBCU week

Sept. 25 commences the National HBCU Week Conference in Washington, D.C.
Entitled "HBCUs Enhancing Innovation and Advancement," the two-day conference is a facet of the White House initiative to memorialize the national contributions of all historically black colleges and universities.
University presidents, chancellors, congressional members, academic officers, federal agency representatives, and HBCU sponsors were encouraged to attend the conference discussions and seminars.
An opportunity to push global engagement as well as ways to facilitate federally awarded grants and monetary research support; the conference acts in accordance with the week's historic vision to celebrate HBCU history and prosperous future.
As an initiative of the Carter administration, HBCU week was created to emphasize the historical stance of all historically black colleges and universities.
Strengthening the traditional objectives of the HBCU to create both educated and productive black leaders while creating opportunities for the habitually educational impoverished black society.
Since Carter's initiation, 32 years ago, each president is called to give an official proclamation to the nation as the week begins. President Obama followed suit Sept. 21 declaring, "Now, I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 23 through September 29, 2012, as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week."
Keeping the tradition set forth by Carter, Obama used his presidential face to ask the totality of the American population to use the week to first acknowledge then celebrate the charity and history of HBCUs.
"I call upon educators, public officials, professional organizations, corporations, and all Americans to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that acknowledge the countless contributions these institutions and their alumni have made to our country," said President Obama.
Although registration for the week's conference has concluded, President Obama suggests America use this week to reflect on the legacy of HBCUs while making strategic strides to create new ones.