Every year the African, Latino, Asian, Native American (ALANA) organization has hosted a themed conference that brings in a variety of events to show what they stand for. This year’s theme, marking the 23rd year of the conference, is "are we there yet?"

ALANA, a student leadership conference that involves students from various ethnic backgrounds, helps give different multicultural groups on campus a chance to represent themselves said Student Involvement Coordinator Maggie Rivera.

The event, now in its 23rd year, has traditionally been a hit with students.

Oswego State sophomore Ceidy Medina, who had been a model for the fashion show the previous year, said ALANA "shows incoming students, faculty and staff that there’s unity."

Oswego State senior Ineisha Williford has been with ALANA for four years and believes that the passion and support of the student body is what makes the conference go on every year, including the widely attended fashion show.

"I believe the fashion show adds an extra flare to the ALANA conference. It’s a way to wind down and come together to do something fun and exciting," Williford said.

According to Student Involvement Coordinator Maggie Rivera, the theme was chosen by former coordinator Grace Mukupa and based on the election of President Obama which made her think is America "really there yet in terms of where America wants to be."

This year’s conference events took place Sept. 13-19 with a closing dinner and fashion show. Among the notable personalities drawn in by ALANA include local author/writer Joan Loveridge-Sanbonmatsu, and author Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a scholar and critic, famous for his writing on Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr. and more. The Holmes Brothers are also making an appearance on Sept. 18.

Closing activities on Saturday include a dinner at Hewitt Union from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with guest speaker Angela Douglas, as well as a fashion show at 8 p.m. in Tyler Hall.