Access to the CIAA Virtual Vibe is free, but registration is required to take part in this unique virtual experience—and be sure to register early as space is limited—as the conference transitions (virtually) to the new host city of Baltimore!

Enter to win a gift card to a local small business. Upload your best picture to our virtual photo gallery and get a shout out at the CIAA Charm City Welcome Reception on Wednesday February 24th. DJ Mc Lyte, DJ Quicksilva, or DJ Flow may pick your picture to win a prize.

Take a Flick!

Wednesday, February 24, 7-10 p.m.

Hosts: Robyn Dixon and Mario

DJS:
MC Lyte 7p-8p
DJ Quicksilva 8p-9p
DJ Flow- 9p-10p

Special Appearances by: Lt. Governor Rutherford, Mayor Brandon Scott, Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams, Al Hutchinson, Rocsi Diaz, and others.

The 2021 Welcome Reception will have a different look and feel than we anticipated, however, this virtual experience will still have the same energy and charm to welcome guests to Baltimore. Featuring celebrity hosts and DJ’s, attendees will learn about Baltimore’s flair, music, and talent. Each hour will be filled with exciting content, greetings from city officials, and acknowledgement of local contributors dedicated to helping raise funds for the CIAA Student-Athletes.

Wednesday February 24th at 1:00 pm-2:00 pm

2020 was an unprecedented year with so many life altering events, especially Covid-19 and how it impacted the global economy and way of life. The African American community was hit especially hard by the virus with higher than expected casualties and with the loss of jobs. While trillions of dollars in government stimulus was pumped into the economy, many POC are still unemployed or underemployed and struggling to stay above water.

Moderator: Drew Haskins

Panelists:

• Greg Oden, former NBA player
• Daphne Winston, Director of Financial Education at Edyoucore
• David Lopez, Managing Director of David A. Lopez and Company

Experts on the panel will discuss:

• The top 2 money habits you changed in 2020 and why
• How to prepare for the tax consequences of stimulus checks
• Pros and cons of accepting deferred loan payment options
• Pros and cons of withdrawing money from retirement accounts like 401(k) or 403(b)s and strategies for minimizing taxes on those withdrawals

Register now by clicking here.

Wednesday, February 24, 3-4:30 p.m.

Health and Mental Wellness have been topics that showcase astounding disparities, complex relationships with society, and unconfronted stigmas in the African American community. These issues not only affect the average African-American person but these cultural norms also impact students and the athletic community. “Preserving A Whole You” Panel discussion will unpack the historical undertones that have shaped the wellness and awareness of the AA community but it will also eradicate the social norms surrounding health and mental preservation.

The 2020 Coronavirus pandemic highlighted health disparities which not only affected the African American community but all groups who fall within the lower socio-economic class structure across the world. It pinpointed systemic inequities and access to proper healthcare, food, and mental wellness treatment and will continue to unfold in different parameters still yet to be seen. There have been many strides to improve health in the United States but large groups of individuals are still lacking the resources and care needed to break the institutional biases. Students, families, coaches are walking around and returning to school environments with stress, anxiety, and other factors and don’t know how to navigate their emotional wellness.

Experts on the panel will discuss:

• Ways to improve community wellness.
• Eradicating stigmas associated with Mental Wellness.
• Initiatives that address disparities to improve health outcomes.
• Health professionals creating trust within the African-American Communities.
• “Coaches are not therapists” and what signs to be aware of to help students and families.

Moderator: Rocsi Diaz

Panelists:

• Jacqie McWilliams, CIAA Commissioner
• Jada McCray, Licensed Certified Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Trauma
  Trained Therapist, Co-Owner and Executive Director of BTST Services Outpatient
  Mental Health Clinic, which provides mental health services throughout
  Maryland
• Dr. Masica Jordan, Assistant Professor within the Department of Counseling at
  Bowie State University
• David Vanterpool, NBA Assistant Coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves
• Myron Flowers, Co-Founder of 360 Fit and Performance

Register now by clicking here.

On December 31, 2019, in Wuhan, China, was the first reported coronavirus case that would change the world. No one knew that this virus would ravage through America, kill over 300k people and affect over 21 million. Brown and Black communities were being impacted at a higher rate because of the socio-economic circumstances and poor healthcare inequities. The health disparities, housing conditions, and distrust of the government played a major role in exposure, how those communities accessed care, and their belief in the information that was being shared.

Now with the vaccine being available, many of these communities are still reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine because of past, racist, and sometimes dangerous, health policies and clinical experiments which targeted particularly vulnerable black and brown communities. Our panelists will discuss what our next chapter will be as we discuss the past and plan for the future.

Moderator: April Ryan

Panelists:

• Dr. Russell Lewis Jr, Medical Director of CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Dr. Michelle Gourdine, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Population Health and Primary Care for the University of Maryland Medical System
• Dr. Jamarcy McDaniel, who has been working on the frontlines as an Emergency Medicine Physician in BronxCare Health System in New York City
• Dr. Richard Watson, President and CEO of Emerge MedStaffing, a Chicago-based
  company

Register now by clicking here.

Thursday, February 25th from 3:00 pm-4:30 pm

Building and maintaining wealth and creating new streams of income will be the topics of discussion for “Creating Financial Freedom” panelists. The landscape of opportunities have changed due to the tech industry, entrepreneurship, etc., however, the wealth gap between the African American community and its white counterpart have not changed. Lack of resources, awareness, and lack of confidence in the financial community have stagnated many people from creating their own wealth journey. Finance is a complicated field, so many people are intimidated by the prospect of planning. African Americans represent only 1.5% of all Certified Financial Planners in the country, which means it can be difficult for many people in the African American community to find representation among financial professionals. Many people don’t know who to ask and what assistance to obtain.

Experts on the panel will give their perspective on financial planning, their journey to financial freedom, and capitalizing on new opportunities to build wealth, reducing debt, and obtaining financial advice.

Moderator: Jeff Johnson

Panelists:

• Jewel Tankard, entrepreneur, author, and evangelist from Bravo’s Thicker Than
  Water
• Venroy July, Lawyer at Miles & Stockbridge
• Courtney Richardson, Wall Street Guru also known as “The Ivy Investor”
• Horace Allen, Financial Advisor at New York Life

Register now by clicking here.

There are so many exciting things to do in Baltimore while you are here for the tournament!

• Looking for a room? Make sure you book your housing package to take advantage of all there is to do in Baltimore.
• Check out Visit Baltimore’s BoP Pass for great deals and discounts on local attractions, shops and restaurants.
• Brush up on the state crustacean, the blue crab—where to get them, how to eat them and everything else you need to know.
• Need kid-friendly activities? We have plenty of things to do that the whole family will enjoy.
• Baltimore takes pride in its African American history and heritage. Find out how to immerse yourself in the culture.
• For more information about the CIAA Tournament, visit The CIAA Website.

Visit Baltimore – CIAA Inquiries/ Event Inquiries

Sonjie DeCaires
Visit Baltimore CIAA Event Consultant
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 410-659-8361

Visit Baltimore – Local Baltimore Information

Aurelia Welsh
Senior Director of Sales & Special Events
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 410-659-7017

John Chrissomallis
Chief Inspector
Board of Liquor License Commissioners
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 410-396-4377

Staci Russell
Assistant Executive Secretary
Board of Liquor License Commissioners
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 410-396-4383

Michelle Abbott-Cole
Operations Officer III
Department of Transportation
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 410-396-1916