How Do Activism, Music, and Education Occupy the Same Space?

This Juneteenth, you are invited to an evening of conversation, poetry, music, and visioning as we welcome hip-hop and spoken word artist, Mama Sōl.

Registration is requested via this Eventbrite link for this FREE, ALL AGES event Monday, June 19th at The Ark in Ann Arbor. You can also help spread the word to your friends via the Facebook event page.

Mama Sōl was the voice of the 2021 Detroit Pistons ‘We Hustle Different’ campaign. Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, Mama Sōl is no stranger to adversity, yet she remains on a constant mission to see, bear and be Light! She has made motivating and assisting people her life’s work. Sōl’s distinct style of delivery combines her love of lyrics, rhyme and music with her love for youth. She electrifies audiences, urging them to see beyond their circumstances, to choose solutions over excuses. Counteracting the negativity often associated with hip-hop, Sōl uses her extraordinary gift and passion for words to encourage others towards self-love, uplifting perspectives, and greater purpose.

Sōl will be joined in conversation by Yodit Mesfin Johnson. Yodit serves as President & CEO of Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW); and is the founder of Black Men Read(BMR), a storytelling program for youth that uplifts Black men, all children and the powerful stories of the African diaspora. Yodit’s work is at the intersections of racial & economic justice and liberatory practices for women and Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color.

Be ready for an evening of interactive conversation with Mama Sōl and Yodit, as well as live music and poetry.

This evening is curated by Michigan nonprofit organizations: Title Track and The Amplify Project; Co-Hosted by The Ark – Ann Arbor and CultureVerse; and is sponsored by the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. This event is further amplified by the efforts of Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK).

8:30pm – 10:30pm After Party Reception Featuring DJ Medusa at CultureVerse (309 S. Main Street; Ann Arbor)