W&L Hosts Sixth Annual Black Future Leaders Experience Conference on Feb. 1 This year’s Black FLEX conference theme is “Black Masquerade: Unmasking Hidden Heroes.”

By Emily Innes
January 17, 2025

To help launch Black History Month on campus, the Student Association for Black Unity (SABU) at Washington and Lee University will host its sixth annual Black Future Leaders Experience Conference (Black FLEX) on Feb. 1.

SABU plans and sponsors the leadership conference each year, which provides a space for W&L’s young, thriving Black scholars to cultivate the most distinguished versions of themselves. This year’s theme is “Black Masquerade: Unmasking Hidden Heroes,” with sessions illuminating the extraordinary, often-overlooked contributions of African American individuals and communities.

“I am thrilled about the opportunity to engage with this year’s powerful theme,” said Daniel Emmanuel Jakubowski-Lewis ’26, president of SABU. “This conference promises to resonate deeply with Washington and Lee University’s evolving narrative as a small institution grappling with its historical complexities. I look forward to fostering meaningful discussions and creating a space where stories that have long been masked can finally take center stage, inspiring change and inclusion both on our campus and beyond.”

The conference will open in Stackhouse Theater with remarks from Amara Oputa ’27, vice president of SABU, at 9 a.m. and sessions begin at 9:45 a.m., featuring presentations from Lexington and W&L community leaders. Following the day-long programming, SABU will host its annual Black Ball on Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. in Evans Hall.

The keynote speaker for this year’s conference is Oronde McClain, author and advocate for gun violence survivors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lunch will be hosted in Evans Hall at 11:15 a.m., during which time McClain will deliver his address.

At the age of 10, McClain was shot in the head while waiting for a bus in Philadelphia, resulting in a seven-week coma. The incident left him partially paralyzed on his right side and coping with seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After a 12-year recovery journey, McClain transformed his personal tragedy into a mission of advocacy and authored the book “PTSD Won’t Define Me” to share his experiences and inspire and support others facing similar challenges.

McClain joined the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting in 2022 and serves as a community activist and motivational speaker, where he focuses on optimizing the quality of life for gun violence victims. He has organized peaceful protests and community events to raise awareness and foster support networks for survivors. Through his resilience and commitment, McClain exemplifies the power of turning personal adversity into a force for communal healing and advocacy.

Learn more about Black FLEX and register for the conference and Black Ball here.