Charleston · September 25–26, 2026
CULTURE. COMMERCE. COMMUNITY.
EXPERIENCE THE 2026 CONFERENCE
Two days of ideas, connections, culture, and opportunity.
Join tourism professionals, entrepreneurs, preservationists, community leaders, creatives, destination marketers, historians, and cultural advocates from across South Carolina for conversations designed to strengthen African-American tourism and build economic opportunity through culture.
OPENING PLENARY
BEYOND TOURISM: BUILDING BLACK WEALTH THROUGH CULTURE
Saturday, September 26 | 9:30 AM–10:30 AM
Wells Fargo Auditorium
Explore how African-American communities can use tourism to create businesses, preserve land, support artists, grow intergenerational wealth, and influence economic development.
Featured Moderator: Courtney Young — Foresight Communications
Featured Panelists: Rochelle Riley — City of Charleston · Dr. Tiffany Bailey Lash — Atlantic Beach Developers · Twila Jones — Columbia CVB · Christopher B. Thompson — Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site · Arun Drummond — Drummond Art Studio
FEATURED SESSIONS & SPEAKERS
Learn. Connect. Build. Grow.
FINDING THE MONEY
Saturday | 10:45 AM–11:45 AM
Evelyn Del — Foresight Communications
Learn how tourism organizations, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and community leaders can identify and pursue the resources needed to move their ideas forward.
GRANTS • A-TAX FUNDING • SPONSORSHIPS • PHILANTHROPY • FEDERAL OPPORTUNITIES
CAPITAL FOR GROWTH
Saturday | 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Discover financing solutions, loan programs, community-development resources, and investor partnerships that can help tourism businesses grow.
CLIMB FUND • COMMUNITYWORKS • LIFTFUND • COMMUNITY LOAN FUND • CHARLESTON SMALL BUSINESS CENTER
DIGITAL STORYTELLING & INFLUENCER MARKETING
Saturday | 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Victoria Rae Boykin — Digital Strategist, Storyteller, Content Creator & Connector
Learn how to use digital content and influencer strategies to grow your tourism business, reach new audiences, and create lasting connections.
PRESERVING HISTORY WHILE GROWING TOURISM
Saturday | 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Dawn Dawson-House — WeGOJA Foundation
Explore how communities can protect historic places, cultural traditions, land, and heritage while using responsible tourism to create economic opportunity.
PRESERVE OUR HISTORY • EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES • GROW OUR ECONOMY • SUSTAIN OUR HERITAGE
THE SCAATC MARKETPLACE
MORE THAN A CONFERENCE. A MARKETPLACE FOR OPPORTUNITY.
The SCAATC Conference Marketplace brings together Black-owned businesses, nonprofits, artists, makers, cultural entrepreneurs, and tourism organizations from across South Carolina.
SHOP BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES
MEET CULTURAL ENTREPRENEURS
BUILD NEW PARTNERSHIPS
MEET THE PEOPLE SHAPING BLACK TOURISM
Leaders. Entrepreneurs. Preservationists. Creatives. Changemakers.
Marc Gibson
Charleston Area Visitor and Convention Bureau
Conference Speaker
Kwadjo Campbell
Chairman, SC African-American Tourism Council
Leadership and Conference Welcome
Courtney Young
Foresight Communications
Beyond Tourism: Building Black Wealth Through Culture
Rochelle Riley
City of Charleston
Beyond Tourism: Building Black Wealth Through Culture
Dr. Tiffany Bailey Lash
Atlantic Beach Developers
Beyond Tourism: Building Black Wealth Through Culture
Twila Jones
Columbia CVB
Beyond Tourism: Building Black Wealth Through Culture
Christopher B. Thompson
Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site
Beyond Tourism: Building Black Wealth Through Culture
Arun Drummond
Drummond Art Studio
Beyond Tourism: Building Black Wealth Through Culture
Evelyn Del
Foresight Communications
Finding the Money
Victoria Rae Boykin
Digital Strategist & Content Creator
Digital Storytelling & Influencer Marketing
Dawn Dawson House
We GOJA Foundation
Preserving History While Growing Tourism
Connect with the people preserving our stories, building our businesses, creating new experiences, and shaping the future of African-American tourism in South Carolina.
SEPTEMBER 25–26, 2026 • COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON • CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Our Culture Is Our Foundation.
Our Communities Are Our Strength.
Tourism Is Our Economic Engine.
PEOPLE | WEALTH | HERITAGE | PARTNERSHIPS | PROSPERITY
CULTURE. COMMERCE. COMMUNITY.