This last week, the #BGSU community had the opportunity to attend the 24th Black Issues Conference and hear various panelists and speakers give their take on this year’s theme: “Freestyle: Celebrating Black Determination, Innovation and Creativity.” Our keynote speaker was Kevin D. Richardson, member of the Exonerated Five. Richardson along with Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana Jr., and Korey Wise were all teenagers when they were wrongfully convicted and served time for the 1989 rape of a female jogger inside Central Park. The teenagers were called the “Central Park Five.” In 2002, all were cleared after another man admitted to the crime, after the five individuals served several years in prison. In Richardson’s words, “everyone doesn’t have to be an activist to be active.” The message in his keynote was clear: use your voice and your work, for good. #AlwaysBG #BlackHistoryMonth