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32 B M & T ••• May/June 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com MISSISSIPPI Mississippi doesn't seek recognition—it carves its legacy into time. This is a state where memory walks the streets and the past isn't long lost—it's still speaking. In Jackson, vision meets vibe at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Jackson Convention Complex, where stories rise between meetings like incense and insight. Along the Gulf, Biloxi offers event space that opens to coastline, while Black-owned seafood kitchens feed both appetite and agen- da. Gulfport adds shoreline poise with civic venues set against maritime views, ideal for retreats with relaxed contemplation. The city's harbor district also welcomes educational summits, culinary showcases, and waterfront mixers that combine intel- lect with setting. In Natchez, bluffs hold more than landscape—they hold consequence. Antebellum venues reimagined for discourse, and walking tours guided by descendants, ensure every pro- gram has both weight and witness. Mississippi doesn't sell ideals—it reveals reality. And for those ready to talk, it answers back. Jackson Jackson doesn't seek reverence—it has been earned. Jackson doesn't rely on recollection—it makes its demands of this new era called the present. This capital city doesn't dwell in the past—it forges new legacies every day. Its streets move to a beat of advancement, its skyline rises with determination, and its meeting spaces deliver insight and influence. The Jackson Convention Complex is the foundation of downtown's event landscape, offering state-of-the-art space within walking reach of historic churches, advocacy aisles, and Black-owned cafés that double as creative accelerators. The Complex showcases state-of-the-art technology, a 382-seat theater and over 330,000 square feet of prime meeting and exhibit space. The structure features a crystalline folding glass façade, and includes a 60,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 25,000-square-foot carpeted ballroom, ten meeting rooms, 33,000 square feet of carpeted pre-function lobby and regis- tration space, and an outdoor patio overlooking downtown Jackson.The complex accommodates everything from busi- ness expos to cultural conferences with streamlined ease. Adjacent hotels like the Westin Jackson and Hilton Garden Inn offer smooth transitions between lodging and leadership. Nearby, the Mississippi Trade Mart provides an additional 110,000 square feet for planners seeking modular floorplans and civic visibility. For hybrid events, tech-enabled centers like The Ecoshed and Hal & Mal's Event Hall fuse creativity with community—offering venues that feel less transactional, more life-changing. Just steps away, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum does- n't mute the past—it presents it boldly, enabling gatherings to be grounded in truth and transformation. In Jackson, planners uncover spaces where purpose thrives: lecture halls designed for disruption, auditoriums that amplify grassroots innovation, and art museums where con- versation navigates between sculpture and spoken word. Neighborhoods like Farish Street aren't postcard nostal- gia—they're ongoing discussions, home to music clubs, local publishers, and culinary landmarks where activism is still served hot. Day turns to evening with gospel on porches and policy in progress. Jackson is where movements are mapped, not memorial- ized. This isn't a setting for programming—it's a proving ground. NORTH CAROLINA North Carolina doesn't trade on reputation—it redefines it. From Charlotte's high-rise command to Durham's intellec- tual firepower and Winston-Salem's cultural pursuit, the state is built on substance. It's where historic Black universities power tomorrow's policies, and global tech conduits rise beside gospel halls and poetry slams. Charlotte doesn't just enhance events—it energizes them. The city balances ambition and authenticity, offering both Fortune 500 presence and homegrown ingenuity. The Charlotte Convention Center—connected to the light rail and steps from Black-owned restaurants and cultural sites— holds major gatherings with architectural finesse. Whether through spoken-word salons, culinary showcases, or rooftop speakeasys, Charlotte transforms itineraries into profound encounters. In Durham, the Durham Convention Center and North Carolina Central University offer venues where scholarship and civic thought collide. In Winston-Salem, planners con- vene at the Benton Convention Center or on the campus of Winston-Salem State University, where strategy takes shape amid legacy and forward motion.This state doesn't feign pres- tige—it builds it. Charlotte Charlotte's a breeze to access from most major cities, and it's a cinch to navigate once you're here. With a beautiful, compact convention district, cozy and affordable hotel scene, and a bustling public transportation system that offers access to the city's gems, the Queen City reigns supreme as a desti- nation for meetings, conferences, trade shows and events. In a compact, walkable district, the 600,000-square-foot Charlotte Convention Center is connected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and across the street from the 700-room Westin Hotel. Roomy with 280,000 square feet of exhibit hall space divisible into four halls, the Convention Center also has 154,000 square feet of breakout space, including 50 meeting Jackson Convention Complex