ORLANDO, Fla. — Another conference bringing together thousands is pulling out of Orlando in 2024. 

Top leaders of the National Society of Black Engineers have voted to scrap off Florida from their original plans and move their annual national convention to Atlanta.

NSBE leaders said the goal of the organization is to increase the number of black engineers who excel at an academic and professional level while making a positive impact in the community. 

NSBE said the current “political climate in Florida seeks to undermine” what the organization stands for.

An Orlando engineer who’s been part of NSBE for several years said he’s on board with the organization’s decision.

“We have a commitment in our mission to diversity, equity and inclusion and felt like it’s not being respected,” said Russell Drake who is a computer engineer in Orlando. 

He tells Spectrum News, he’s been a member of the National Society of Black Engineers since 1998, an organization he said has empowered him in his career. 

“It’s a group that brings exposure to young engineers across the nation,” he said.

NSBE’s conference rotates each year. The 50th annual convention would’ve been in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center next year.

Leaders said they’re moving it because Florida is “at the forefront of efforts across the nation to ban diversity, equity and inclusion.” 

Drake said he was surprised at the National Society of Black Engineers’ announcement to move the conference next year away from his home but is on board with their reasoning. 

NSBE leaders in a letter to members cited seven reasons why they’re taking next year’s conference to Georgia.

Some include Florida law’s prohibition to teaching critical race theory, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and the state’s law to prohibit state colleges from expending funds on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The NSBE letter also said: “As a black organization working towards equity for black stem students and professionals, we stand in solidarity with efforts and advisories from black legacy organizations like the NAACP.”

Drake said he hates to see the impact of Florida policies hindering students from getting exposure and conferences like this one from coming to the state. He said youth need more stem-oriented opportunities to motivate them to join and stay in the field.

“I hope overall, our state legislators takes a second a look at these policies that they’ve put forth and these house incentive bills that have taken away some diversity, equity and inclusion opportunity for students because its really about the future and the youth,” said Drake.

An NSBE spokesperson said this year, there were more than 13,000 people at the conference held in Kansas City.

In Orlando next year, leaders said they were expecting at least 15,000. They’re still expecting that number in Atlanta.