The largest in-person career fair for diverse talent!
This event offers an exciting opportunity to boost your brand’s visibility and awareness. With a dynamic networking environment and a variety of engaging activities, it will draw an elite crowd of key influencers, celebrities, students, and professionals—both early-career and seasoned—from across the country.
EVENT LOCATION

Washington, DC
The Westin DC Downtown Hotel, 999 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 		EVENT DATE

May 1st, 2026
From 9:00am – 5pm ET 		TARGET AUDIENCE

Over 3,500
alumni, students, and supporters located within a 500-mile radius of the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) metropolitan area.


REGISTERED EMPLOYERS: EVENT PREP
Employer & Sponsor Participation Guide

Thank you for registering! Your comprehensive event prep guide covers everything you need for a successful experience at the 2026 HBCU Connect Annual Conference & Career Fair in Washington, DC.

✓ VIP Kickoff Reception — Thu, April 30 (6–9 PM)
✓ Career Fair Day — Fri, May 1 (9 AM–4:30 PM)
✓ Booth setup, signage & display guidelines
✓ Shipping, parking & venue logistics
✓ Hotel reservations & team preparation
✓ Badge submission & check-in process

CAREER FAIR VENUE

The Westin Washington DC Downtown

999 9th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-898-9000
KEY DATES

APR 8
Hotel reservation deadline
APR 24
Booth rep submission deadline
APR 29
Shipping final arrival deadline
APR 30
VIP Kickoff Reception (6–9 PM)
MAY 1
Career Fair Day (9 AM–4:30 PM)
HOTEL RESERVATIONS

BOOK YOUR ROOM

Deadline: April 8, 2026


WORLD-CLASS COMPANIES TRUST HBCUCONNECT



REVIEWS THAT SPEAK VOLUMES

Check Out What Our Sponsors Had to Say!






Why Exhibit at Our Event?
Position your company at the forefront of innovation, opportunity, and impact by becoming an exhibitor at our premier event.



Unmatched Brand Visibility

Showcase your brand to a national audience through a variety of high-impact sponsorship levels. Whether you're looking to increase awareness, launch new initiatives, or reinforce your presence, our event delivers the exposure you need.

Dynamic Networking & Recruiting Opportunities

Take part in curated activities designed to maximize engagement — from panel discussions and breakout sessions to interactive exhibits and one-on-one networking opportunities.
Engage with a Diverse and Influential Audience
  • Rising professionals and experienced talent
  • Top-tier students from leading institutions
  • Celebrities and media figures who amplify your message
ATTENDEE DEMOGRAPHICS




ABOUT THE EVENT

Friday All-Day Career Fair & Talent Engagement Experience
Prepare for a day of engaging with a diverse pool of professional talent at our Annual HBCU CONNECT Conference and Career Fair.

Our all-day career fair provides maximum exposure to qualified candidates across various industries, roles, and career levels. Whether you’re hiring for internships, entry-level positions, or senior leadership, find talented candidates eager to contribute their skills and perspectives.

Participating employers will have the opportunity to:
  • Tap into one of the most powerful and diverse talent pipelines in the nation.
  • Connect with hundreds of highly qualified candidates actively seeking internships and full-time roles
  • Showcase your brand through a prominent booth presence and featured visibility throughout the event
  • Drive real recruitment outcomes with face-to-face interactions and high engagement






ABOUT THE EVENT

Sponsor the Professional Development Sessions
The Professional development sessions are structured learning experiences, such as workshops, designed to boost attendees' skills, knowledge, and capabilities for career growth, better job performance, and organizational success. They cover topics ranging from technical skills and leadership to emotional intelligence, using interactive methods like Q&A, real-world examples, and practical application.
  • Position your organization as a champion of career advancement.
  • Align your brand with high-impact learning experiences that attract ambitious HBCU students and professionals
  • Present on a topic or subject matter that promotes growth in your industry and talent market
  • Engage directly with attendees seeking guidance, mentorship, and opportunities in your field
  • Demonstrate your commitment to diversity, upskilling, and community investment






EMPLOYERS & EXHIBITORS

Sponsorship Packages

Platinum
 Gold
 Silver
 Bronze
 NonProfit
Booth Footprint at Professional Networking Reception 20’ x 20' 10’ x 20’ 10’ x 10’ 10’ x 10’ 10’ x 10’
Company Logo on Conference/Event Landing Page
Full Conference Registration Package 8 6 4 2 3
Career Fair ONLY Registrations 6 4 2 1 1
1-Minute Video Rotation during Networking Reception
Talent Sourcing & Reporting for up to Three Candidate Profiles Request Pricing Request Pricing -
Electronic Resume Delivery After Event
Exclusive Email and Social Media Communication Request Pricing Request Pricing
Company Logo on Promotional Materials
Lead a Professional Development Session Request Pricing Request Pricing
Keynote Speaking Opportunity Request Pricing Request Pricing Request Pricing
Discount on 2027 HBCU Connect In Person Conference  15% 10% 5% - -



Request Exhibitor Details
Interested in signing up as a Sponsor/Exhibitor? Please fill out the form below and we follow up within 1 business day!
First Name:
Last Name:
Email:
Phone: (optional for text/sms reminders)
Company Name:
Company Website:
Sponsorship Level of Interest:


EMPLOYERS & EXHIBITORS

Preparing to Attend
What we need to get your registered

We simply need to know which sponsorship level you would like to secure, and we will draft an invoice (payable within 30 days) to secure your participation.
Subsequently we would request a logo to use to list you as a participating sponsor, a paragraph listing information about your company (don't worry, we'll send a form to secure these details) as well as any links to your career opportunities to share with participants as they sign up.
What to Provide Once Registered
  1. Company Logo you would like for us to use on our website and marketing materials. We need all materials by April 17th, 2026.
  2. List of participating recruiters (First Name, Last Name, Email). We need all materials by April 17th, 2026
  3. Power Point Slides you would like shown during the event on projector screens (Up to 3). We need all materials by April 17th, 2026
  4. List of types of candidates you typically hire. A list of job links is fine as well if that is easier. We need all materials by April 17th, 2026
What to Bring to The Event

We will provide you with table space at our career fair where you can share the following:
  1. Recruitment Brochures / Handouts with information about your company and opportunities available.
  2. Recruitment materials that may include information about your stance on diversity.
  3. Small snacks to attract folks to your table area (mints, gum, candies).
  4. Branded items such as pens, pencils, note pads, folders, water bottles, and miniature hand sanitizer are always welcomed options.

For full instructions on participating in our event, please download the Sponsor Information Packet (Coming Soon).





EMPLOYERS & EXHIBITORS

Official Event Hotel

×

We're excited to bring our Annual Conference back to the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia Tri-State)! Use the resources below to book your hotel and travel, and explore why the DMV is known as the Black Mecca, with diverse food scene, sports teams, energy industry, museums and cultural institutions, and African American Culture. Book your room right away before we sell out!

Official Conference hotel
The Westin DC Downtown
999 9th Street Northwest
Washington, District Of Columbia, 20001

The attendees must use it to book their rooms online in order to take advantage of the special contracted group rate. For those attendees who prefer to call in to reserve their room, the number is 1-800 228 9290; they need to reference the name of the Event:HBCU Connect Room Block.
Per contract, all reservations must be received by Wednesday, April 8th.


EMPLOYERS & EXHIBITORS

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The ROI from This Event

  1. Interviews and Hires! At our typical recruitment reception for one of our clients with the toughest profile (IT/Software candidates) they were able to hire 12 candidates within 30 days of just one of our events. Most of our clients also are repeat customers and we have a waiting list for our services to host events such as this, which actually drove us to present this "networking and recruitment reception" format for multiple employers in one venue. We will deliver candidate resumes before and after the event, and we will also market your company and specific opportunities to candidates prior to the event to maximize the ROI for your participation.
  2. Branding! Our advertising campaign, and actual weekend events will draw over 100,000 media impressions from professional African Americans in the mid-west considering our event and our partner's career opportunities.
  3. Pipeline Creation! We collect resumes from all interested attendees for every event and deliver a pipeline of hundreds of candidates that can be categorized by data points such as location, college, major, experience, industry, educational level, open to relocation, and more!

What Content do We Provide for The Event?

We will share your Video or Powerpoint slide content during our Career Fair.
Here is content you can share in your video or powerpoint slides:

  • Introduce your company and the types of roles you typically hire for.
  • Locations where you have openings, and maybe selling points for those locations.
  • A pitch for working for your company. Why would someone love working for your company?
  • Your statement regarding diversity and its importance to your company.

Do you have pictures from past events?

Feel free to review pictures from our past event on our Flickr Page.
Feel free to review video from our past event on our YouTube Channel.