Some issues aren’t just race specific anymore; they apply to everyone.

This year’s Black Issues Conference will explore that sentiment with the theme of “It’s Not Just A Black Issue,” which will address politics, leadership and civil rights Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Union. All the sessions are free to students, but it will cost $5 if they want a lunch buffet. Tickets can be bought at the door.

The conference speaks not only to the importance of the month, but also to the issues students face on campus, said Chad Coates, graduate coordinator for the Multicultural Programs Office of Multicultural Affairs.

The aim of the conference is to promote discussion and encourage student engagement with issues that “transcend race and ethnicity,” Coates said.

Since August, the planning committee for the conference has been working to set up the event, from acquiring speakers and volunteers to drafting ideas for sessions and themes, said John Killings, graduate coordinator for Diversity Education Programs.

The committee brainstormed ideas to get more individuals to attend and bring about more awareness on campus, Killings said.

There are a lot of student panels this year, and it allows for students voices’ to be heard among their peers, he said.

Other sessions featured in the conference include: “Political Participation” presented by Toledo Mayor Mike Bell; “Are Leaders Born, Made, or Neither” presented by Sidney Childs, executive director of TRIO Programs at the University; and “The Law … What It Is And How It Applies To You!” presented by keynote speaker attorney Walter T. Madison.

Madison, a Toledo native and graduate of Akron University, worked on civil rights litigation and can relate to the local context of students, leading to a campus wide discussion, Coates said.

Along with civil rights, leadership is also a big aspect of the conference.

Sidney Childs said his session will look into what determines a leader and how the students’ perception of a leader ties into the matter.

It’s important to get a sense of what students think of leadership and see how that brings them back to the University, leading them to look at what makes the students leaders, Childs said.

Childs said leadership role models in his own life were his parents.

“My parents told us stories of how we need to persevere,” he said. “And that no matter what happened, it’s my responsibility to myself and community that I receive an education and give back to the community.”

Killings agrees that leadership is an important quality.

“Our society pushes leadership and pushes students to conquer the world,” he said.

Older generations are retiring now, so it is time for the students to step up and take their place in the world, Killings said.

The conference not only offers opportunities and engagement for the students, but also the surrounding community and visitors from the University’s Firelands campus, Coates said.

Regardless of race, Multicultural Affairs is hoping a lot of students come out and get their voices and opinions heard, Killings said.