The 2011 Leadership Conference Celebrating Black History Month will also celebrate its 10th year on Feb. 4 and 5 at Troy University.

Lamar Higgins, chair of the Conference committee, said he is excited that the Leadership Conference has grown from the humble beginning of 30 participants to more than 300 in 2010.

“We are expecting at least that many in our 10th anniversary year,” Higgins said. “The Leadership Conference was created to bring together community leaders from the university, city and county to address the current needs of the community and to help individuals fulfill their leadership capacities.”

The keynote speaker for the opening of the conference on Friday night will be Bishop Vashti McKenzie, who is the first black female elected as bishop of a major denomination. McKenzie is serving as bishop of an A.M.E. church in the Washington D.C. Beltway area.

The theme of the 2011 Leadership Conference is “challenging our leaders: Restoring our hope, preserving our values and living our faith.”

The topics for the three plenary sessions on Saturday morning will come from the theme and feature noted speakers from across the country.

Higgins said Calvin Mackey is one of several motivational speakers who will inspire and challenge Conference participants.

“Calvin Mackey is a professor at Tulane who was displaced by Hurricane Katrina,” Higgins said.

“He has an awesome message about how to make lemonade out of lemons. Everyone will benefit from hearing him as well as the other speakers.”

Higgins said Eric Thomas is a young speaker who tells his story of how he has used his GED as a stepping-stone to achieving his goals in life.

Thomas is a motivational speaker who has a strong message for students and athletes as well as those in the workplace and in community service.

Bishop S.D. James is a local personality whose message will resonate with people of all ages and from all background, Higgins said.

The speaker for the awards luncheon has not been confirmed but will be a nationally renowned personality, said Shelia Jackson, a member of the Conference committee.

Higgins said the success of the Conference has been the good partnership with Troy University, the city of Troy, Wal-Mart DC and S.D. James.

“The 10-year partnership, with outstanding planning from the advisory committee, has enabled the Conference to grow and continue to grow,” Higgins said.

“We are excited about our 10th anniversary and look forward to another outstanding Leadership Conference.”

Tickets for the 2011 Leadership Conference Celebrating Black History are $30 each and include all Friday and Saturday events.

For tickets or more information, call 334-670-3204.