More than 300 people have registered for the 2012 African-American History Month Leadership Conference that opens tonight at the Trojan Center Theater on the campus of Troy University and continues through noon on Saturday.

Featured keynote speakers will be Dr. Randel Pinkett and the Rev. Raphael Warnock.

The Leadership Conference will open at 6:15 p.m. with music provided by the Troy University Gospel Choir led by Lewis Webb.

“The 40-member choir will present a mix of gospel, traditional and spiritual songs including, ‘Open My Mouth to the Lord,’ and ‘I Shall Wear a Crown,’ by Thomas Dorsey,” Webb said.

Shelia Jackson, conference public relations chair, said the performance by the gospel choir will be a highlight of the conference.

“The Troy University Gospel Choir is outstanding and we proud to showcase them at the conference,” Jackson said. “The keynote speaker for the opening of the Leadership Conference will be Dr. Randel Pinkett, who was the winner of season four of ‘The Apprentice’ with Donald Trump.

“Dr. Pinkett is an entertaining and inspiring speaker and we are excited to have him as a keynote speaker.”

The Leadership Conference will continue Saturday morning with work sessions designed for community and student leaders.

The 2012 African-American History Month Leadership Conference will close at noon with a luncheon in the Troy University Ballroom beginning at 11:30 a.m. with music by a lineup of local vocalists and musicians, including Shelia Jackson, Christine Barron, Dorsey Fayson, Henry Everette, Larry Thomas, Charles Davis, Connell Barron and others.

The keynote speaker for the closing luncheon will be the Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta that is the home church of Dr. Martin Luther King.

“Rev. Raphael Warnock is a dynamic, motivational speaker and he will encourage and inspire all of us to go back to our communities committed to being the best we can be and doing the most we can to make our communities better places to live, work and play,” Jackson said.

She expressed appreciation to the Leadership Conference chairman Homer Wright and his committee for doing an outstanding job of putting the conference together and for their commitment to the future of the conference.

“The conference is sponsored annually by Troy University and the City of Troy and without their support, it would not be possible,” Jackson said.

“We thank everyone who has been a part of the organization and carrying out of the conference and those who came to listen and to learn.”

For ticket availability, call Barbara Patterson at 334-670-3204.