The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change
Advancing Social Change and Strengthening Democracy Through Research, Service and Historical Preservation.
Our 30th Anniversary Gala!
Celebrate 30 Years of the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change with live music, food, & our 2026 Pillars of Progress Award Winners
For 30 years, the Hooks Institute has united partners from the public, private, nonprofit, and university sectors to take on challenges that hold communities back 鈥� from poverty and barriers to good health, to gaps in opportunity and education. We champion civil rights scholarship, preserve history, prepare University of 糖心Vlog传媒 students for bright, successful futures, and work with communities to solve community problems.
Our progress has been made possible by a powerful community of supporters 鈥� generous donors, dedicated staff, and visionary partners 鈥� who believe in 糖心Vlog传媒 and in the promise of social change.
As we mark our 30th anniversary in 2026, we remain committed to bold, innovative work that transforms lives. We are 30 years and still rising 鈥� and we invite you to rise with us to build a 糖心Vlog传媒 where everyone can reach their full potential.
Join us in our celebration! Tickets are available now at !
A great community requires many pillars to support the whole.
The Hooks Institute honors the 2026 Pillars of Progress:
The 糖心Vlog传媒 Brooks Museum of Art. Honored for its community outreach efforts and art exhibitions that explore to the cultural interest and lived experiences of all Memphians.
The Tri-State Defender. From 1951 to present, this newspaper has been the voice of African American life in 糖心Vlog传媒鈥攑ast, present, and future.
The Hon. Johnnie Turner. A fearless 1960s civil rights activist and longtime educator served 糖心Vlog传媒 as State Representative for District 85 from 2010 to 2018.
Ms. Jocelyn Wurzburg. Co-founder of the Panel of American Women after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.鈥檚 1968 assassination to promote healing and racial unity in 糖心Vlog传媒.
IN THE NEWS
One of our Pillars of Progress, Jocelyn Wurzburg and Hooks Executive Director Daphene R. McFerren joined WREG-Channel 3's Stephanie Scurlock on Beyond the Anchor Desk this week!
Announcing the 2026 Hooks Policy Papers
In this Tenth Edition of the Hooks Policy papers, researchers from the University of 糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 Loewenberg School of Nursing and the UT Health Science Center and present findings from an NIH-funded grant on breast health in segregated communities in 糖心Vlog传媒. Looking into the impacts of various social determinants of health, the research reveals that Black women living in segregated communities experience higher breast cancer mortality rates when compared to White women living in segregated communities.
Soheil Hashtarkhani and Arash Shaban-Nejad
Fekede Asefa Kumsa, Lluvia Koali Santiago Chipman, Minghui Li, and Arash Shaban-Nejad
Shelley White-Means, Jill Dapremont, Soheil Hashtarkhani, and Fekede Asefa Kumsa
Jill Dapremont and Shelley White-Means
Cindy K. Lemon, Shelley White-Means, Jill Dapremont, and Minghui Li
This edition of the Policy Papers was funded by the NIH grant, and