Unplug U Embodying Joy: Poetry Workshop
Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026Black History Month 2026
About
In 2026, the University of Utah’s Center for Community and Cultural Engagement honors 100 years of Black History Month by centering the continuum of Black life—past, present, and future. This year’s theme "Echoes of the Past. Voices of Today. Visions for the Future." - recognizes the deep heritage of Black communities, honors the voices that continue to shape our world today, and uplifts the horizon of futures imagined and built through scholarship and care. We invite our campus and community to engage Black history not as a static archive, but as an evolving force that shapes culture and possibility.
Through community-centered programming, Black History Month 2026 creates space for reflection, celebration, and collective visioning. Guided by heritage as a source of knowledge, hope as a practice of resilience, and horizon as a commitment to possibility, this commemoration affirms Black histories as foundational to the University of Utah and the broader world. Together, we honor the past, listen deeply in the present, and imagine futures rooted in education and justice.
Audience
University students, faculty, and staff, as well as members of our off-campus community interested in community building, cultural education, and cultural celebration.
2026 Theme
Commemorating 100 Years of Black History Month
Heritage • Hope • Horizon
Date
February 2026
2026 Schedule
Collegiate Room - Union Building
Description: Join us for Embodying Joy: Poetry Workshop, an Unplug U event, focused on reflection and creative expression. Participants will be encouraged to write their own pieces and engage in shared poetry during an optional open mic. Notebooks and light refreshments will be provided. No RSVP is required. This event is open to all and free to attend. See you there!
Virtual Presentation A Line of Inquiry from Lived Experience: Researching Blacks in Ballet
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026*RSVP Required*
Description: Join CCE and the Office of Undergraduate Research, for a presentation with Professor Deans, a former professional Black ballet dancer, as she shares discoveries from her research on the history of Blacks in ballet. Drawing from her own experiences, she will discuss the methods she used to uncover and document this often overlooked legacy and what it was like to write about something deeply personal.
RSVPWomen's Basketball Game
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026Jon M. Huntsman Center
Description: Join us at the Women’s Basketball game on February 7 as the Black Student Union partners with Athletics for a special game-day experience. Watch as the U of U takes on Iowa State. Representatives from the Black Student Union will table on the concourse and be recognized on the court as part of an audience hype moment celebrating student involvement and community.
Library Pop-Up
Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026J. Willard Marriott Library - Level 2
Crimson ConversationsHeritage, Hope and Horizon: A Panel Discussion
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026Hinckley Institute of Politics (GC 2018)
Description: The Center for Community & Cultural Engagement and the Hinckley Institute of Politics invite you to, Heritage, Hope, and Horizon: A Panel Discussion Commemorating 100 Years of Black History Month Celebrations. Join us for a conversation about the significance of Black History Month celebrations, how they shape our current moment, and the wisdom they can teach us about the future. Lunch will be provided. This event is free to attend and open to all!
