Highlighting Black Voices: Impact as Presence is an annual Black History Month event hosted by the Urban Wordsmith Society in collaboration with Phi Eta Psi Fraternity, Inc. The program creates an intentional space for Black students at the University of Michigan to gather, reflect, and celebrate African American leaders, role models, and generational curse-breakers whose work leaves a lasting imprint on the world.
Now in its third year, Highlighting Black Voices has featured influential speakers across art, education, activism, and technology, including Mama Sol, a nationally recognized hip-hop and spoken word artist; Dr. Umar, a clinical and school psychologist, Pan-Afrikanist, and educator; and Mykolas Rambus, CEO and co-founder of Hush, an AI cybersecurity and privacy company.
Alongside keynote speakers, the event uplifts student writers and poets by providing space for spoken word performances and storytelling rooted in lived experience. The mission of the program is not only to honor today’s leaders and mentors, but also to affirm and nurture the future leaders, educators, and generational curse-breakers emerging within the campus community.
This year’s theme, Impact as Presence, centers on the power of embodiment and storytelling. The event emphasizes the importance of claiming space, speaking truth, and showing up fully—reminding Black students that their presence alone carries power, meaning, and influence.
 
The event will take place on February 27, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, at the Michigan Union — Kuenzel Ballroom. Attendees can expect an evening of reflection, dialogue, and creative expression designed to leave a lasting impact on both speakers and audience members.