March 10, 2026 ̶ ̶The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute will mark a significant milestone — its 30th Anniversary — at the “30 Years andStill Rising: Pillars of Progress Gala” to be held at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center on the University ofMemphis campus on April 10 at 6 p.m. The Gala will include a cocktail reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres followed by the awards presentation program and live music.
For decades, the Hooks Institute has turned bold ideas into real change — keeping children safe and communities healthy, opening doors to academic and economic opportunity, transforming research intoaction and preserving the legacy of civil rights through education, art and storytelling. From reducingchildhood drowning deaths and advancing student success to shaping public policy, honoring groundbreakingscholarship, and elevating Memphis artists, this work strengthens our community and builds a more justfuture.
The Hooks Institute relies substantially on donated and grant dollars to provide direct support for its programs.Proceeds from the event will help fund these vital programs, for which demand is expanding.
At this landmark event on April 10, we will honor individuals and institutions that exemplify steadfast commitment to social change and community advancement. This year’s honorees are the Memphis BrooksMuseum of Art, the Tri-State Defender, the Hon. Johnnie Turner, and Jocelyn Wurzburg. The program will also feature a celebration of the Hooks Institute’s 30 years of work and impact, including archival footage of its namesake, Benjamin L. Hooks.
The Memphis Brooks Museum community outreach efforts and art exhibitions are vital to the community because it explores to the cultural interest and lived experiences of all Memphians. From 1951 to present,the Tri-State Defender has been the seminal voice of African American life in Memphis — past, present andfuture. The Honorable Johnnie Turner was a fearless 1960s civil rights activist, a longtime educator andserved Memphis as State Representative for District 85 from 2010 to 2018. After Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968, Joceyln Wurzburg co-founded of the Panel of American Women to promote healing and racial unity in Memphis.
The Hooks Institute proudly recognizes these honorees for their impactful contributions to the community intheir respective fields. Their dedication has helped create a stronger, more connected and vibrant Memphis.
Members of the community are invited to join the Hooks Institute in this celebration. Individual tickets for theevent are $150, a block of 8 tickets for $1,200 and all are available through Eventbrite at memphis.edu/hooksgala.
To date, the “30 Years and Still Rising: Pillars of Progress Gala” sponsors include Truist, Bank3, Baptist MemorialHealthcare, Pinnacle Financial Partners, AllWorld Project Management, Inc., The Memphis Grizzlies, JAMS(Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services), Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Renasant Bank, CIGNA,Memphis Allies, Cornerstone Engineering, and Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Amy Ruggaber, assistant director, at amy.ruggaber@memphis.edu or call 901.678.3974.
Quick Overview of Event Details:
Hooks Institute 30 Years and Still Rising: Pillars of Progress Gala
The Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center, University of Memphis Central Campus Friday, April 10 6 PM – 8:30 PM, doors open at 5:30 PM
Tickets available at Memphis.edu/hooksgala
Cost: $150 for individual ticket, $1,200 for a block of eight tickets
About the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change
The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute implements its mission of advancing social change and strengtheningdemocracy through research, service, and historical preservation. Institute programs include communityoutreach; funding faculty research initiatives on community issues; implementing community service projects;hosting conferences, symposiums and lectures; and promoting local and national scholarship on civil andhuman rights. The Hooks Institute is an interdisciplinary center at the University of Memphis. Contributory support for the Hooks Institute, including funding from individuals, corporations and foundations, isadministered through the University of Memphis Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit memphis.edu/benhooks
Media Contact:
Amy Ruggaber
Assistant Director
The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change
Amy.ruggaber@memphis.edu
