Black Association of Behavior Analysts
Annual Convention 2026
Jackson State University • June 25-27, 2026
REGISTRATION OPEN
Join the Black Association of Behavior Analysts for the 2026 Annual Convention at Jackson State University. This three-day gathering will bring together practitioners, scholars, students, and community members for learning, connection, and collective growth.
Black Association of Behavior Analyst 2026 Annual Convention
Date: June 25-27, 2026
Location: Jackson State University • Jackson, Mississippi
• Hotel & Lodging •
Here’s the reservation link our guests can use to make reservations:
Book your group rate for The Black Association of Behavior Analysts
The Black Association of Behavior Analysts Room Block information: Start Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026 End Date: Sunday, June 28, 2026 note: Group rate is available 3 days prior to start date and 3 days past end date
Hotel(s) offering your special group rate::
The Westin Jackson for $169.00 USD per night – Last Day to Book : Friday, June 05, 2026
Discounted Overnight Valet at $18.00 USD per night.
Book your group rate for The Black Association of Behavior Analysts today!
• Sponsorship •
Want to sponsor this year’s conference?
Interested? Contact us at [email protected]
CONFERENCE EVENTS
June 25th, 7:00pm
Kinnect: Faculty, Founders & Futures
A BABA Kinnection Experience
Kinnect: Faculty, Founders & Futures is a curated networking and relationship-building experience designed to bring together Black faculty, researchers, business owners, clinicians, organizational leaders, students, and aspiring entrepreneurs for intentional connection and future-building.
More than a traditional networking event, Kinnect is a space for collaboration, mentorship, scholarship, and possibility. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect across disciplines and career paths while engaging in conversations centered on leadership, research, entrepreneurship, higher education, and building sustainable futures within and beyond behavior analysis.
This experience is designed to foster meaningful relationships—not transactional exchanges. Through guided connection activities, facilitated conversations, and intentional community-building, participants will leave with new collaborations, mentorship opportunities, and expanded professional networks rooted in shared vision and collective advancement.
Whether you are exploring academia, launching a business, seeking research partnerships, or looking to grow your professional community, Kinnect creates space for Black futures to meet strategy, purpose, and opportunity.
Recommended Audience:
Faculty • Researchers • Graduate Students • Business Owners • Consultants • Clinicians • Organizational Leaders • Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Attire:
Wear what best represents your goal/desire in attending
June 26th, 7:00am
Find Your People Breakfast
The Find Your People Breakfast is a community-centered dining experience designed to help attendees connect with others who share similar identities, lived experiences, professional interests, and career paths within and beyond behavior analysis.
Through curated affinity tables and guided conversation, attendees will have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with others across shared spaces and experiences. Whether you are a student, LGBTQ+ professional, school-based practitioner, business owner, researcher, first-time attendee, supervisor, or someone exploring the doctoral journey, this breakfast is designed to help you find connection and community within the larger BABA experience.
This gathering creates intentional space for collaboration, support, and authentic conversation in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Attendees are encouraged to move throughout the space, meet new people, and connect beyond titles or credentials.
June 26th, 7:00pm
Legacy on the Yard: BABA Homecoming
The BABA Homecoming (Reunion) is a high-energy, community-centered celebration bringing together conference attendees, local community members, and students from Jackson State University for a vibrant indoor tailgate experience designed to keep us cool while honoring the spirit and legacy of Black collegiate culture.
Rooted in the traditions of HBCU Homecomings, this event blends music, food, games, fellowship, and cultural pride into an experience centered on joy, connection, and community. More than a social event, Legacy on the Yard serves as a gathering space where generations of Black scholars, professionals, students, and leaders can come together outside of conference sessions to celebrate the culture and community that continue to shape us.
Attendees can expect:
• Music and DJ entertainment
• Indoor tailgate-style games and activities
• Food, fellowship, and networking
• Opportunities to connect with JSU students and the broader BABA community
• Black collegiate traditions and Homecoming-inspired experiences
• A vibrant atmosphere rooted in celebration, pride, and kinnection
As BABA hosts its convention at an HBCU for the first time, this event represents more than celebration—it represents alignment. Legacy on the Yard honors the longstanding role HBCUs play in sustaining Black thought, leadership, creativity, and community across generations.
Come prepared to rep your school, your organization, your letters, your city, and your people as we gather in true Homecoming fashion.
Attire:
HBCU Homecoming / Greek Paraphernalia /Tailgate
June 27th, 7am
Restore & Recenter: A BABA Wellness Experience
Restore & Recenter is a grounding wellness experience designed to offer attendees intentional space for rest, reflection, and nervous system care during the conference experience. Blending gentle yoga, guided breathwork, and Reiki-inspired energy healing practices, this session invites participants to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and move through the weekend with greater balance and ease.
Created with the understanding that community care also requires self-care, this experience centers restoration as an essential part of sustaining impactful work. Whether attendees are carrying stress, fatigue, overwhelm, or simply seeking a moment of stillness, this gathering offers a calm and supportive environment to pause, breathe, stretch, and reset.
No prior yoga or Reiki experience is necessary. Participants are encouraged to come as they are and engage at the level that feels most comfortable for them.
Attire:
Comfortable clothing encouraged
June 27th, 6pm
The Golden Legacy Gala: A Journey Through Time
The Golden Legacy Gala is an immersive celebration of Black brilliance across generations. Designed as a journey through time, the evening transforms the venue into a living tribute to the artistry, elegance, innovation, and cultural impact of Black communities from past to future.
Guests will experience a series of curated environments inspired by iconic eras of Black excellence—from the glamour of the Harlem Renaissance and the sophistication of mid-century Black culture to the bold opulence of the late twentieth century and visions of Afrofuturist possibility. Through music, décor, fashion, and atmosphere, each space invites attendees to reflect on the legacy we inherit and the futures we continue to build.
The evening will feature elevated dining, immersive décor, music, curated photo moments, and a celebratory atmosphere rooted in culture, community, and timeless style.
Dress Code: Timeless Opulence
Guests are encouraged to represent their favorite era of Black excellence while embracing the gala’s signature palette of black, gold, and emerald green. Think elevated, expressive, and unforgettable.
The Golden Legacy Gala is more than a formal event—it is a celebration of Black legacy in motion.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
• FAQs •
What is the theme of the conference?
Legacy in Motion: Black Thought, Black Practice, Black Futures
Is the Call for Papers open?
Yes. The Call for Papers is currently open and will close on January 30, 2026. No extensions will be granted. Please submit your call here
How can I help sponsor the conference?
Sponsorship opportunities will be announced soon.
Will there be a hotel room block?
Yes. Please be sure to book your hotel after ticket purchase
What airport should I fly into?
Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
I have a dietary need or accessibility request. Who should I contact?
Please indicate all dietary needs and accessibility accommodations directly on your registration form so we can plan accordingly.
What is included with the Events Ticket?
The Events Ticket provides access to three (3) official BABA convention events scheduled during the conference. Event details and schedules will be announced closer to the conference date.
Additional events may be added to the Events Ticket package at a later time. If so, registered attendees will have access to these events at no additional cost.
Please note that space for events may be limited, purchase early.
I have colleagues who would like to attend. When is the deadline to register?
Registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Capacity is limited, and we encourage early registration. The deadline for regular registration is May 31, 2026.
Is childcare provided?
BABA will not provide onsite childcare. Attendees are encouraged to make independent childcare arrangements as needed.
Is onsite registration available?
Onsite registration will be available. However there are downfalls for registering on-site (all events are not available for purchase at that time and the fee increases)
What is the refund policy?
Please refer to the refund policy included in your registration confirmation. Conference registration fees are non-refundable.
How can I reach the conference organizers?
Please email [email protected] with any questions.
CONFERENCE 2024 RECAP
CONFERENCE 2024 TESTIMONIALS
