Benjamin L. Hooks Institute Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Series of Events

April 11, 2017 - Celebrating 20 years of pursuing the dream of the civil rights movement to reality, the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute will host a series of events the week of April 17-20. All events are free and open to the public unless stated otherwise. 

The Hooks Institute African-American Male Initiative Symposium will feature national and local efforts to increase positive educational and social outcomes for African-American males. The event will be held on Wednesday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the University Center Bluff Room (304) at the University of Memphis.

The digitization of civil rights activist Benjamin L. Hooks' papers is a collaborative project between the Hooks Institute and the University of Memphis Libraries to make available Hooks' civil rights and personal papers online. The project is the largest digitization effort of the University of Memphis Libraries. A public rollout of the Hooks Digitization Papers Website will be held on Wednesday, April 19, with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and program at 6 p.m. in the UC Bluff Room.

The Hooks Institute's Join Hands for Change Gala: Pursuing the Dream to Reality Gala will celebrate the Institute's work over the last two decades. The event will be held Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. at the UofM Holiday Inn. This years' keynote speaker will be civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew J. Young. This is ticketed event. 

The mission of the Hooks Institute is teaching, studying and promoting civil rights and social change. This is reflected in its programming, which includes funding faculty research and community service projects; hosting conferences, symposia and lectures; and promoting and recognizing local and national scholarship on civil and human rights.

Founded in 1996 by the late civil rights activist Dr. Benjamin Hooks in partnership with University officials, the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change is an interdisciplinary center at the University of Memphis. For information about the Hooks Institute, visit The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change.

For More Information
Contact Daphene R. McFerren Executive Director, Hooks Institute
drmcfrrn@memphis.edu or 901-678-3974