The African, Latino, Asian and Native American (ALANA)  Student Leadership Conference, Sept. 16 to 21, provides events that prioritize teaching multicultural student leaders ways to extend their voices across campus for a better Oswego community.

This year’s ALANA conference aligns with the start of Latin American Heritage Month, Constitution Day and precedes Inauguration Week for SUNY Oswego’s President Peter O. Nwosu. The theme for the conference of “Our Culture, Our Voice, Our Community, Our Vote” unites the multicultural organizations putting the conference together.

“There’s a great mixture this year of brand new programs that are happening in moments that may never happen again,” said Michael Paestella, associate director of leadership development in the Student Engagement and Leadership office. “Like having the Vice Chancellor here on the kick-off of Latin American Heritage Month, but then there’s those historic traditions that people know and can identify like the Peace Walk and the keynote speaker.”

The week begins on Sept.16 with a lecture from SUNY Senior Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Ricardo Nazario y Colón in Penfield Library’s Speaker’s Corner at 5 p.m. An accomplished poet and leader, Nazario y Colón will share his perspective on ALANA's themes and engage with student leaders in a platica (conversation). (Read full biography.)

A program centered around student activism will take place Tuesday, Sept. 17, for Constitution Day, in 114 Marano Campus Center at 4 p.m. This collaboration with Vote Oswego and the university's Civic Engagement Coalition is an interactive program with alumni, faculty and staff. 

The next day, Sept. 18, will feature an Open Political Dialogue in Marano Campus Center’s Laker Lounge at 4:30 p.m. about the upcoming elections. The Civic Engagement Coalition and the Oswego Dialogue Project serve as partners on this event.

The event’s keynote speaker Eboné Bell will discuss “Level Up Leadership” on Thursday, Sept. 19, in the Sheldon Hall ballroom at 7 p.m. Featured by Forbes Magazine as an "Inspiring Black Entrepreneur Changing Our World," and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Bell will speak in depth about nuances pertaining to diversity, LGBTQ+ topics and more during her presentation. (Read full biography.) 

ALANA will wrap up with their annual Peace Walk on Saturday, Sept. 21, starting from Oswego’s Civic Plaza next to City Hall at 11 a.m. The walk will conclude on campus with a 12:30 closing program in the Marano Campus Center auditorium (room 132) and a reception to follow.

Creating new opportunities

Paestella's mission is to redevelop the experience in leadership to create new opportunities for multicultural leaders on campus. 

“I was charged with bringing ALANA back to really being that leadership conference that’s held through a multicultural lens,” Paestella said. “And something that could be for both student leaders and for people just getting involved.”

ALANA was created as a conference with the “power five” multicultural organizations: The Black Student Union, Latino Student Union, Caribbean Student Union, African Student Organization and Asian Student Association. These organizations have evolved into hosting programs related to their mission since then. Other students organizations, such as Image Step Team, also partner on events.

Organizers focus on extending their voices throughout campus to advocate for students of color. The “Our Culture, Our Voice, Our Community, Our Vote” theme reflects the spirit of unity and action that the conference embodies.

“It’s really about coming together and sharing our culture amongst the different ALANA orgs whether ASO, CSA, LSU, ASA,” said Black Student Union President Aliyah Wright. “I think we all have the same vision in giving student leaders and student activists a platform to really amplify their voices.” 

Wright said she became president of BSU because of her love for the Black community. She recognized the work that can be done on campus and wanted to be a part of the change to improve the community. 

“I expect the conference to be a form of reminder to every student on this campus that you matter, your voices matter, there is a point to everything you do,” African Student Organization President Jamal Akin-Tukur said. 

Akin-Tukur said ALANA is for students of color who look for a sense of community while attending a predominantly white institution. Understanding that your voice has power and learning how to utilize it is part of the environment ALANA is trying to create, Akin-Tukur added. 

“I think everybody amongst the org has the same goal of wanting to help the community,” Wright said. “Help POC (people of color) really empower each other.” 

Looking ahead, ALANA plans to expand its role in empowering multicultural student leaders. The conference will continue fostering student action and unity to ensure future voices of color are heard across SUNY Oswego and beyond.

For more information and a schedule, visit the ALANA conference website.

–- Written by Roxana Dolores of the Class of 2024