By Marissa Evans, president, NABJ Marquette University Chapter
Our student chapter’s account of how the 2011 National Association of Black Journalists Convention & Career Fair unfolded from August 3-7 in Philadelphia.
After months of planning, a group presentation and a date auction, the NABJ-Marquette chapter would be officially represented at the 2011 NABJ Convention & Career Fair in Philadelphia.
Last year at the convention in San Diego, only our chapter president Marissa Evans was able to attend, but this year we added four more to the troupe including: Ashley De La Torre, Kendra Carruthers, Francesca Reed and Brandon Dorsey.
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S/o to @marissaaevans @AshleyDeLaTorre @KAPARAZZI @FRANtastic10 & @BCD_Pondering for representing us at #NABJ11! We’re proud of you! |
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For updates on #NABJ11 starting tomorrow from campaign to workshops to the speakers follow the #NABJMU11 hashtag, our 5 will tweet on it! |
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First night there we were in the reception mingling with other students and getting ready for a great convention. Business cards, handshakes and hugs were passed all around.
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Ever since I got to college, I DEFINITELY take advantage of free food. Like what they have at this reception! #NABJ11 #NABJPhilly |
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The next morning Brandon & Ashley were off to the Sports Task Force Breakfast. The others hit the career fair and a panel on branding.
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J.A. Andande is here too #NABJ11 #NABJPhilly |
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Michael Smith from ESPN is pretty cool. And he has Verizon lol @AshleyDeLaTorre |
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Stuart Scott is at the sports breakfast! I’m gonna meet him! #NABJ11 #NABJMU11 #NABJPhilly |
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So the difference between a journalist & a blogger is that a blogger gives his/her opinion & a journalist just neutrally presents a story |
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S/O to @MarioAlexander for his inspiring words of encouragement in entrepeneurship and branding oneself. #nabj11 keeps getting better  |
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The Black Media Ownership panel resonated well.
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Come to the Terrace Ballroom and check out the Black Media Ownership workshop…lots of influential people in the midst #nabj11 |
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“You can’t be forced to hold on to an asset because you’re black.”. #nabj11 |
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We made sure to have someone present at the NABJ Business Meeting. A time for members to speak directly to the board of directors and vote on important changes to the constitution and how the organization itself moves forward.
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Sitting in on the #NABJ11 Business meeting — very informative, definitely encourage students to come through to learn where our org is at! |
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We have 1,113 student members as of July 31, 2011! Ow ow @NABJSTUDENTS doing it big, recruit a friend, lets keep it going! #NABJ11 |
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Always feel so humbled when I hear a founder of #NABJ speak, this is truly why we’re here #NABJ11 |
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After a long day of learning and campaigning we knew the NABJ Student Choice Awards would be a great way to wind down for the evening.
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S/O to this amazing DJ #nabj11 #StudentChoiceAwards |
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Cupid Shuffle? Ya tu sabes! #NABJ11 |
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Student choice awards–stop by Salon H! Delicious coconut shrimp & finger food #nabj11 |
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Hittin that dougie on the floor! Aaaayye! #NABJ11 |
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After the awards we found a small diner not too far from the hotel to eat at. We noticed things close somewhat early in Philly. Or perhaps all the good food establishments close early.
While waiting at our table, we were delighted to find a jukebox. It wasn’t quite Beach Boys or The Beatles records on this jukebox, but it did the trick for the time being. The first round of quarter scrounging allowed for unanimous agreement on playing Britney Spears’ Circus. The next song was won by the people who had the most quarters to spare.
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Midtown 2 Restaurant – playing Amy Winehouse on the jukebox. RIP <3 |
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A bad slice of chocolate cake and some plates of mozzarella sticks and turkey bacon later, we were on our way back to the hotel for a few hours of sleep.
We would have this happen to us though.
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Just seen roaches on 11th St. Yes, roaches! I haven’t seen a roach in years! #NABJ11 #NABJPhilly |
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But August 5, 2011 was D-Day. The type of day that separates a Golden Eagle from other mascots.
Election Day.
Time to kick the campaign into high gear.
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VOTE NOW!!!! NABJ Student Rep. #TeamMarissa @marissaaevans #NABJMU11 #NABJ11 |
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Vote @marissaaevans for student rep! #NABJ11 |
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RT @FRANtastic10: Vote for @marissaaevans for NABJ Student Representative!!!!!!!! One hour left to vote!!! Do it now!!! #NABJ11 #teammarissa |
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VOTE!!! @marissaaevans for NABJ Student Rep! |
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S/o to Syracuse NABJ members Troy and Lawrence for helping out! #NABJ11 |
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Campaining for @marissaaevans, vote for her as student rep! #TeamMarissa |
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But after days of passing out fliers and campaigning at the convention, at 5:00 p.m. it was all over.
All we could do was wait for the results in our room while Ashley, one of the election monitors, was gone for a couple hours getting the final vote count.
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Kudos @marissaaevans on great @NABJ student rep campaign. Awaiting results. @MarquetteU @NABJ_MarquetteU & your faculty adviser very proud. |
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But it was only right that after the drama of the student rep campaign that more drama would ensue..
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The @NABJ Student Representative was a tie between @marissaaevans and @Wesley4NABJ with 69 votes each. #NABJ11 |
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The battle for student rep #NABJ11 who will win, Marissa or Wesley..?? |
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OMG! @NABJ student rep race between @marissaaevans @WesleyLowery ends tied 69-69! Revote Aug. 15-22 @MarquetteU #NABJ11 http://t.co/nbs6Nfe |
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We along with many others were a little more than stunned. Leave it to a Golden Eagle to be part of history in some form though right?
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@herbertlowe WHOA. Go @marissaaevans! |
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Humbled to have tied in the #nabj11 student rep elections, looking forward to continuing the campaign & spreading the mission/vision. |
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We waited for Marissa to be done with an NABJ Monitor interview and after some quick discussions with our chapter advisor Mr. Lowe, we did what any chapter would do after an epic election.
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Post election dinner w/ the best chapter ever @NABJ_MarquetteU #nabj11 (@ Chili’s Grill & Bar) http://4sq.com/rant82 |
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Later on, some of our members opted for a quiet evening hanging out with their new friends, Ashley and Marissa decided to see what the PABJ’s Philly Love party was all about. We hear all the old-school jams were played and QuestLove was on point.
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Chilling w/ @ashleydelatorre at the PABJ Philly Love Party #NABJ11 (@ Electric Factory w/ 3 others) http://4sq.com/pzcYtm |
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@questlove killin it tonight at the Electric Factory #NABJ11 Philly!!!! |
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There were some concerns though when now past NABJ secretary Roland Martin kept getting on the stage to dance.
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Why does Roland Martin have a dance routine to every song tho lol |
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But we figure journalists have to have an outlet of some kind to get their boogie on, no matter how head turning a routine!
As the night progressed, after each song they were supposed to leave..but the old school jams kept sucking them back onto the dance floor (or at least Ashley got sucked back in, Marissa opted to sit a few songs out). Campaign trails and heels can wear a soul out!
The next day, it was back to workshops and panels.
Some went to the Black Athlete Manifesto panel while others went to the Covering Healthcare Reform panel.
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Stayed out until 3 partying with @questlove ,but I’m up and ready to go to this workshop #NABJ11 |
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“Anyone that is uncomfortable with me makes me smile.” -Steven A. Smith #nabj11 |
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Rare to find diabetes article for black people that discusses soul food & how to prepare it healthier #NABJ11 |
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Men should know the health stats as well as they know their sports stats #NABJ11 |
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@stephenasmith called LeBron a princess not a king #Hilarious #NABJ11 |
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Didn’t know Affordable Care Act provides funds to help increase number of minority healthcare professionals #NABJ11 |
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Important to know lifetime limit on health insurance, 73% who declared bankruptcy who were ill had health insurance #nabj11 |
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For our members that went to the screening of The Help, we heard nothing but rave reviews about it late into the evening. The regular movie scale from Ebert & Roper might be four stars but on the NABJ-Marquette scale the movie received 10.
Thank goodness we got in line for tickets early, they went fast!
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“Sometimes courage skips a generation.” #TheHelp |
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#TheHelp was AMAZING def. a MUST see. Now listening to some of the cast, author, and director speak about the film #NABJ11 |
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So emotional after watching this…10 stars |
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RT @BCD_Pondering: Tamron Hall, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, the author of The Help & the director of The Help are all here to talk about the story! #NABJ11 |
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A screening of Red Tails happened right after The Help and some of us stayed for that as well.
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About to watch a quick screening of #RedTails, then a panel with Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. |
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Terrence Howard & Cuba Gooding, Jr. are gonna be here too! #leggo |
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Our group was separated later on in the afternoon after all the panels ended but great minds (or in this case eating habits) always seem to think alike.
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Cheesesteaks w/ @KAPARAZZI @FRANtastic10 @heylaurens (@ Jim’s Steaks w/ 2 others) http://4sq.com/nUCHUe |
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The evening came quickly and a few hours later we knew it was time to pack and get some sleep for our early flights.
But in the wee hours of 4:00 a.m. what fun would it have been if a bit of mayhem hadn’t ensued?
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You know your chapter has your back when they help you pack & get a cab when you mix up your flight time #nabj11 |
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It was bittersweet that it all ended so soon though.
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Heading to the airport for our 9:35am flight back to the homeland. S/O to #nabj11 for an amazing weekend, lots to be thankful for |
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#NABJ11 was fabulous! S/o to @NABJ_MarquetteU & all of my new #NABJ family for a great time in Philly! |
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s/o to @NABJ_MarquetteU for an amazing weekend in Philly! @FRANtastic10 @marissaaevans @BCD_Pondering @ashleydelatorre |
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Just got picked up from the airport. I miss Philly already |
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But our president had one last thing to say about the student representative elections.
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@NABJSTUDENTS I’m ready to lead, I’m ready to serve, I’m ready to make our #NABJ experience invaluable: Aug. 15-22 Vote #TeamMarissa #NABJ11 |
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We learned a lot, ate a lot, campaigned a lot and had too many quotable moments for this Storify. We overall loved NABJ Philly and have already started brainstorming how we’re going to get to New Orleans next summer.
Will YOU be there?
