Ben Hooks Institute
2026 Events
Upcoming Events
February 5
Hooks National Book Award Presentation and Lecture - "Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America" Featuring Joy-Ann Reid, Author
The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis will present the Hooks National Book Award to Joy-Ann Reid, author of "Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America" on Saturday, February 7th at 2pm. Details on reservations for this free, public event are forthcoming.
Quick View Event Details:
Hooks National Book Award Presentation and Lecture
University Center Theatre, The Maxine A. Smith University Center, University of Memphis
Central Campus
Saturday, February 7, 2pm
Sponsored by:
Presenting Sponsors | UofM African & African American Studies Program; UofM Hardin Chair of Excellence in Journalism
Community Sponsor | Memphis Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Following University of Memphis Entities:
Department of English
Department of History
Marcus W. Orr Center for the Humanities
April 8
30 Years and Still Rising: The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change Pillars of Progress Gala
Past Events
November 11
Hooks Institute Annual Student Networking Reception
The Hooks Institute hosted its annual Student Networking Reception to advance social change by empowering University of Memphis students to strengthen their networking skills for career readiness and to be leaders in our community. Students enjoyed meeting community professionals and UofM faculty and administrators to gain insights into making the most of their collegiate experience to prepare for success after graduation.
October 9 - 28
The Frances Dancy Hooks Art Award and Exhibition 2025: "Art = Freedom."
The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis has chosen 12 pieces from an impressive group of submissions for the 2025 Frances Dancy Hooks Art Award and Exhibition. The finalist works, which focus on the theme “Art + Freedom,” will be on exhibition in the Dr. Ralph Faudree Exhibition Hall in the Hooks Institute offices during public open house events on Oct. 21 and 28.
Visitors will be able to view each of the finalist works, which provide commentary and reflection on a wide array of issues exploring personal and social change as well as freedom itself. The finalist artists are Arely Herrera, Chavela Racine, Yea That Artist, Machal Wright, LaAndrea Deloyce, Katrina Boza Leggett, Lonnie Robinson, TEO, Valarie Sparks, Denzel Johnson and Kailyn Jamille.
Named in honor of Frances Dancy Hooks, the award and exhibition are in its second year. It is designed to acknowledge the importance and impact of artists in the work of social change.
April 23
Hooks Institute Pillars of Progress Gala
On Wednesday, April 23, 2025 the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis will honor organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing equity, inclusion and social justice. They include A2H Engineers Architects Planners, Just City and the Memphis Business Journal along with the Honorable Bernice B. Donald, Dorothy Cleaves and Dr. Andy Meyers. Learn more about these "Pillars of Progress" here.
The Hooks Institute proudly recognizes these honorees for their impactful contributions to the community in their respective fields. Their dedication to the greater Memphis communities has helped create a stronger, more vibrant Memphis by uplifting those who remain at the margins of society.
Proceeds from the event will support the Hooks Institute’s vital programs, including community engagement, faculty research, student success initiatives and the preservation of civil rights history.
Sponsored by the Following Entities:
Premiere Sponsor | Nike
Supporting Sponsors | Cigna, The Memphis Grizzlies, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Regional One Healthcare, and Friends of Just City
The Host Committee for the Pillars of Progress Awards Gala included:
Audrey Davis, Jesse J. Turner, Steve Swain (Hooks Board Members) Daniel and Meggan Kiel (Friends of the Hooks Institute), Willie Gregory (Nike), JW Gibson (Gibson Companies) and the Hooks Institute staff.
The Hooks Institute deeply appreciates the support from the following departments and faculty at the University of Memphis:
College of Arts and Sciences
Division of Research & Innovation
Faculty Friends of the Hooks Institute
Herff College of Engineering
Office of Governmental & Community Affairs
School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy
March 3
Reception with author and civil rights movement veteran Charles Cobb, Jr.
Meet Charles Cobb Jr., journalist, author of "“This Non-Violent Stuff’ll Get You Killed," and veteran of civil rights movement org., SNCC.
February 19
Black Inclusion Guild (First Horizon Bank), “Labor Leadership, and Legacy Panel."
Panelists, Daphene R. McFerren, Hooks Institute Executive Director., Ernest Strickland, CEO, Black Business Association and Vernon Stafford, Chief Audit Executive of financial services, panelists.
February 13
West TN PBS -"Tennessee is Talking."
Daphene R. McFerren, Hooks Institute Executive Director, provides a historical overview of the Fayette County, TN Civil Rights Movement that began in 1959 when African Americans demanded the right to vote.
February 12
IBM Tech Talk - "AI and Bias in the System"
Amy Ruggaber, Hooks Institute Assistant Director, spoke to students from institutions of higher learning around the world in IBM's monthly Tech Talk on the importance of recognizing and working to correct information gaps and the resulting inherent bias in the Large Language Models used to train generative AI.
February 5
Hooks National Book Award Presentation and Lecture - "Our Secret Society" Featuring Dr. Tanisha C. Ford, Author
The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis will present the Hooks National Book Award to Dr. Tanisha C. Ford, author of Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement on Wednesday, February 5 at 6:00 PM. The event, in partnership with the University of Memphis’ Graduate Association for African-American History (GAAAH), will include the award presentation and a lecture by Dr. Ford. There will be a reception, with light hors d’oeuvres, reminiscent of Mollie Moon’s soirees, at 5:30 PM .
Quick View Event Details:
Hooks National Book Award Presentation and Lecture
The Michael D. Rose Theatre, University of Memphis Central Campus
Wednesday, February 5, 5:30 PM – 7:30PM
Sponsored by the Following University of Memphis Entities:
African and African American Studies Program
English Department
History Department
Marcus W. Orr Center for the Humanities
January 30
Centennial Celebration: Commemorate the 100th Birthday of Benjamin L. Hooks
The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis will celebrate what would have been Hooks’ 100th birthday with a reception and screening of the Hooks Institute’s film “Duty of the Hour”, a documentary about the life of Benjamin Hooks on Thursday, January 30, 2025. This special evening will give the community in Hooks’ hometown an opportunity to recognize the life and impact of a great Memphian and American.
Quick View Event Details:
Centennial Celebration: Commemorate the 100th Birthday of Benjamin L. Hooks.
The University Theatre in the Maxine A. Smith University Center, University of Memphis
Central Campus
Thursday, January 30th 5:30 PM – 8 PM
Hosted by the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis
in partnership with the Epsilon Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.