The University of Memphis received its first ever federal earmark of $835,000, given to The U of M’s Benjamin Hooks Institute for Social Change.
After much support by the legislature and Memphians, the earmark was passed in December.
“We wanted to be a part of that (the earmark),” Congressman Ed Bryant said. “But we give credit where it’s due: to Dr. Hooks and all his support here in the Memphis community.”
Director of the Hooks Institute Doug Imig said that while he is excited about the prospect of expanding current programs, the institute is making sure everything is utilized to serve the community.
“We are waiting until we are sure how to make the most out of the money,” Imig said. “Rather than $835,000, we have an opportunity to make that investment grow.”
Other than the federal earmark, the institute has partnered with several other local companies and groups.
The sixth grade project is a one-day program where sixth grade students visit The University, learn about civil rights and meet Ben Hooks. The project has received some additional funding by Nike, who is excited about educating young people.
“We see a lot of opportunities for specific, mutually beneficial partnerships,” Imig said.
In future years, with the additional money, Imig is hoping to expand the program beyond the one-day program. The Institute is hoping to provide educational materials for public school teachers so that the students can learn more before and after the University visit.
The program is mostly urban now, but the hope is to expand in order to reach the entire public school system, which is 89 percent of students.
For the last four years the public school system has been working with the institute on the sixth grade project. Besides expanding the program to encompass more of public school’s year-round curriculum, the institute hopes to begin a peer mentor program.
In the same spirit of “mutually beneficial partnerships,” Imig said that anyone is welcome to help with anything at the Ben Hooks Institute, and can get involved by dropping by or checking the website.
The institute is not just about civil rights, according to Imig and political science chair David Mason. “We’re not a museum.”
“The institute is about social change,” Imig said. “Social movements for social justice.”
The sixth grade project, to be held March 18, will be followed by a symposium held on March 19 in the Rose Theater. Among the scheduled speakers will be two former big-city mayors, David Dinkins of New York City and Richard Hatcher of Gary, Ind., who will discuss what it was like to be the first African-American in their respective occupations.
Imig said Dinkins and Hatcher are in the unique position of having come from being “outsiders” who struggled to be recognized by the political establishment, to men who became ultimate political “insiders” by holding offices of high power.
Previously, the institute could not have as many speakers as they would have liked due to monetary restrictions. Their options are much more broad for the upcoming years, and they hope to reach out to and educate more people.
“This is a public initiative,” Imig said. “It should serve the Mid-South, and the nation for that matter.”
