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I attended the College Board Dream Deferred & HBCU Conferences in Los Angeles with two co-workers. Because I wanted to stop by the lounge, I invited them to meet at The Club MDW for breakfast. They usually sit at the gate. I can access the lounge using Priority Pass Select. Check your credit card benefits or book a reservation through The Club MDW website.
My school paid the registration fee for the Dream Deferred & HBCU Conferences. They used Mena Travel Services (CPS Vendor) to pay for the flight and accommodations. Once I received the paperwork from Mena’s, I entered the confirmation number on my Rapid Rewards account. Add your flight to your Southwest app for easy access to your boarding pass. For this round-trip flight, I earned 7,328 Rapid Rewards points. Remember this hack when you travel for work. Because the confirmation number was the same for everyone, my co-workers boarded with me in the A Group. I am A-List Preferred.
Here is another hack if your school pays for lodging. I added my reservation at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel to my Marriott Bonvoy account. I received credit for my two-night stay and earned 6,475 Bonvoy points. Because I have Gold Elite Status, my checkout was at 2:00PM. You know I love a great view. I could not see the sunrise from room 1618, but the Hollywood sign was in the distance. Do not forget to stop on the 2nd floor to see if you recognize any movies filmed at the hotel.
It is hard to believe I learned more at this conference than when I attended in 2023. The plenary sessions were energetic. I felt the love in the room. This conference provides HBCU professionals and advocates with resources to support African American students. For example, I attended sessions about mentoring African American students and supporting students who want to attend HBCUs. Did you know Tomi Adeyemi was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People? She also signed my copy of Children of Blood and Bone. Purchase your book on Amazon. Save the date for the conference in Philadelphia, March 16-18, 2026.
After we checked into the hotel, we picked up badges and swag for the conference. We took a ride share to Burger District. Although this was not my first choice, it was a good choice. The place has limited seating, but we managed to snag the table across from the register. I ordered the turkey burger and fries. Was I hesitant about ordering? The owner sensed my hesitancy. He offered to buy my burger if I did not like it. Well, he saved some money. My burger was well-seasoned, and the fixings added to the flavor. I also tried a few banana peppers. If you are in Los Angeles and want to try a great burger, stop by the Burger District. By the way, the shoestring fries were crispy and slightly salted.
As always, I looked for my usual souvenirs: patches, stickers, and ornament. I spent $60 on lunch and souvenirs. Because we changed our flight, I did not have enough time to visit the American Express Centurion Lounge. If you feel sluggish and need a boost to continue your work in education, the College Board Dream Deferred & HBCU Conferences will lift your spirits. Show your love for HBCUs by clicking this link to purchase a t-shirt.
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