It is with great pleasure that I welcome each of you to the Seventieth Annual ASBS Conference being held here in Nashville, Tennessee.  For those of you who are attending for the first time you should truly enjoy the unique experience that is awaiting you.  The Association of Social and Behavioral Scientists not only encourages American scholars but also scholars from around the world to participate and to share their research. The result is a dynamic conference that challenges all of its participants.

Each of the presenters has or is examining an issue that is critical to the quality of life for Blacks in America, Africa or the African Diaspora.  It is the coming together of such a high caliber of scholars with such a focus that makes the ASBS conferences such unique and precious experiences.  It is the awesome power of the collective "I" that both junior and senior scholars feel when participating in the various conference activities. Who better can tell our story?

Presenters are genuinely interested in sharing their stories. Whenever I am doing research I seek out an ASBS member who is either from the area I am researching or who has done research on the area. Oftentimes these discussions carry over during lunch or dinner.  I am continually amazed at the wealth of information our members possess.  When they share, it is not only their academic information but also their personal experiences.

Because there is a sincere interest in improving the quality of information about us, senior scholars will sometime pull a junior scholar aside and explain in greater detail some disturbing issue.  It is family looking out for family.

As you join the collective "I" during the Seventieth Annual ASBS Conference, please realize that you are among family, and we are eager to learn of your research.

Sanza B. Clark, Ph.D.

ASBS President, 2004-2005

Cleveland State University