Special Events
Once again, we have combined education and engagement with entertainment and fun. Join us during these Special Activities to connect, create, and for a chance to win amazing prizes.
Sickle Cell Family Reunion Barbecue Kick-Off -
July 15, 2025
Let the grill sizzle and the good times roll! We’re firing up the fun and welcoming everyone home with a down-home, joy-filled evening at the Sickle Cell Family Reunion Barbecue Kick-Off—the official launch of the 12th Annual Sickle Cell Warriors Convention.
Get ready to reunite, reconnect, and relax as we gather under the stars for an unforgettable evening of food, laughter, music, and games that feel just like a classic family cookout—with a sickle cell twist!
HBCU-Styled Warrior University Homecoming
July 17, 2025
Get ready to bring the energy, the culture, and the pride as we celebrate sickle cell warrior excellence in true HBCU fashion!
On Thursday, July 17th, the 12th Annual Sickle Cell Warriors Convention transforms into a vibrant HBCU-Styled Homecoming—a celebration of heritage, identity, and unity within the sickle cell community. Inspired by the powerful traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, this event is where culture meets community, and where warriors, caregivers, and advocates gather to uplift one another in style.
What to Expect
🎺 Marching Band-Inspired Kickoff & Drumline Beats
🏆 “Rep Your School” and “Rep Your City” Spirit Competitions
💃🏾 Stroll-Off & Step Show featuring warrior-led teams and HBCU alumni
🎨 Children's Fashion Show (feat. Warrior University merchandise)
🎭 Greek Life Appreciation & Black Excellence Showcase
🍽️ Tailgate-Inspired Food & Fellowship
🎶 Live DJ and Homecoming Dance Party to close out the night
Attendees are encouraged to rep their alma maters, sororities and fraternities, hometowns, or warrior pride with HBCU-style Warrior University paraphernalia, t-shirts, and colors. This night is about joy, pride, and celebrating the strength, legacy, and future of the sickle cell community in a way that’s bold, beautiful, and unapologetically Black.
Why It Matters
The HBCU-Styled Homecoming isn’t just about fun, it's about recognizing and reclaiming joy in the face of chronic illness. It’s a chance for warriors and caregivers to:
- Be celebrated for their resilience and brilliance
- Reconnect with culture and community
- Experience the uplifting power of music, movement, and legacy
This signature event captures the heart of the convention’s 2025 theme: “A Sickle Cell Family Reunion.” What better way to celebrate family than with the pride and unity of a Homecoming night to remember?
Come Dressed to Represent! Come Ready to Dance! Come Home to the Family!
Let the drums roll, the flags fly, and the pride shine.
We’ll see you on the yard.
Family Reunion Cousins’ Pajama Party
As the sun sets on a day of learning, laughter, and reconnection, the Family Reunion Cousins’ Pajama Party opens the door to a different kind of healing—one rooted in honesty, vulnerability, and deep connection.
Part of the Warriors-After-Dark series, this intimate, late-night gathering invites participants to slip into something comfortable—yes, pajamas are encouraged!—and join their “cousins” for heartfelt, closed-door conversations that rarely get space in public settings.
The 10th Anniversary Royal Gala
Step into elegance and celebration at the 10th Anniversary Royal Gala, a black tie fundraising affair hosted by the Sickle Cell Community Consortium during the 12th Annual Sickle Cell Warriors Convention.
This year’s Gala is more than an evening of fine dining and glamour - it is a powerful tribute to a decade of leadership, advocacy, and transformation within the sickle cell community. As we honor our journey from grassroots movement to national force, we will also raise critical funds to continue empowering patient voices, advancing community-driven initiatives, and driving equitable access to care and cures.
Registration for all sickle cell warriors and caregivers, including all scholarship recipients, includes one (1) Gala Ticket. Additional tickets, tickets for all other registration types, and tickets for non-registered attendees can be purchased seperately.
ABSTRACT
Welcome to the abstract portal for the 12th Annual Sickle Cell Warrior Convention. We welcome abstract submissions from sickle cell advocates, non-profits, community organizations and research scientist. Abstracts must not exceed 3000 characters and should be written for a primarily patient/caregiver audience.
Submitted abstracts should describe:
1. New and emerging research,
2. Community education, advocacy, outreach or awareness projects primarily involving sickle cell disease,
3. Descriptive summary of a sickle cell organization, or
4. Literature review of a topic deemed of interest to the patient/caregiver community.
All abstract participants are welcome to provide a poster to be displayed in the common convention space for the duration of the meeting. Select presenters will be invited to give an oral presentation of their work. All abstracts must be submitted through this online form ONLY. Abstracts submitted via mail, email or fax will not be considered. The submission deadline is Friday, July 5, 2025.
Choose the category that best matches your abstract.
(1) Choose CBO Spotlight to provide a synopsis of your CBO, its mission, projects and platforms.
(2) Select Community-Engagement Efforts to highlight an outreach initiative dedicated to bridging the gap between stakeholder groups.
(3)Select Patient-Powered Research Review to present a summary of a preliminary literature review for a patient-generated research topic.
(4) Select Project Summary to present on a specific project or platform initiated by you or your CBO12
