Hoops and Culture Returns to Detroit for Its Second Annual Celebration of Sports, Education and HBCU Excellence
By Demetrius Carrington
Basketball may bring people through the doors, but the second annual Hoops and Culture Weekend is designed to deliver much more.
Hosted by the Horatio Williams Foundation in partnership with Wayne State University Athletics, the October 23 and 24 event will combine college basketball with HBCU education, financial empowerment and important conversations about health and wellness.
“Basketball creates excitement, but education is at the heart of everything we do,” said Horatio Williams, founder of the Horatio Williams Foundation. “We want people to enjoy the games while learning about institutions, careers and resources that can change their lives.”
The weekend begins Friday, October 23, with programming focused on personal and financial wellness.
Wellness Meets Culture will be held at Hollywood Casino at Greektown, located at 1200 Saint Antoine Street in Detroit. The program will include a discussion about mental and emotional health with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. MeYonna of Raw and Explicit will lead a candid conversation about sexual health.
These discussions address subjects that are often ignored or discussed only in private. By placing them within a larger cultural event, the foundation hopes to make reliable information more accessible and encourage healthier conversations throughout the community.
Friday evening will feature Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal, the nationally recognized hosts of Earn Your Leisure. Their platform has introduced millions of people to conversations about investing, entrepreneurship, business ownership and financial freedom.
The panel discussion will take place from 7 PM until 9 PM at Elevate at One Campus Martius, located at 1000 Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. The event is free with limited seating, and hors d’oeuvres will be provided.
“We have to connect our community with information that can improve the way people live, think and plan for the future,” Williams said. “Financial education and personal wellness belong in the same conversation because both influence the strength of our families.”
On Saturday, October 24, the weekend moves to the Wayne State University Fieldhouse for the Hoops and Culture HBCU Expo and three college basketball games.
The HBCU Expo will be held from 10 AM until 1 PM. Students and their families will have an opportunity to learn more about Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the academic, cultural and professional experiences they provide.
HBCUs have educated generations of leaders in business, medicine, law, science, education, politics, athletics and the arts. They remain places where students can receive a quality education while developing a deeper understanding of their history and identity.
“My job is to help people understand the beauty of HBCUs and connect them with schools they may not have considered,” Williams said. “These institutions offer education, tradition, community and a strong sense of belonging. Sometimes one introduction is all it takes to change the direction of a student’s life.”
After the expo, attention will turn to the basketball court for three matchups bringing HBCU programs together with Michigan universities.
Wilberforce University will face Wayne State University at 2 PM. Alabama A&M University will play the University of Detroit Mercy at 4:30 PM. Tennessee State University will close the evening against Oakland University at 7 PM.
Guests can attend all three games for $20. The HBCU Expo and basketball experience are powered by Amazon.
The games give Detroit families an opportunity to support student athletes while experiencing the pride and tradition associated with HBCU culture. They also create a setting where education and entertainment can exist together without either losing its importance.
The Horatio Williams Foundation has built its work around mentorship, community involvement and introducing young people to positive people and environments. Hoops and Culture reflects that mission by bringing valuable resources directly to the community in a way that feels engaging and welcoming.
The second annual Hoops and Culture Weekend is not simply a basketball event. It is a celebration of education, culture, health, business and the institutions that have helped shape generations of Black excellence.
Detroit has never lacked talent or ambition. Events like Hoops and Culture help connect that potential with knowledge, relationships and possibilities.
Event Information
Friday, October 23
Wellness Meets Culture
Hollywood Casino at Greektown
1200 Saint Antoine Street
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Earn Your Leisure Panel Discussion
Featuring Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal
7 PM until 9 PM
Elevate at One Campus Martius
1000 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Free admission with limited seating
Hors d’oeuvres provided
Saturday, October 24
Hoops and Culture HBCU Expo
10 AM until 1 PM
Wayne State University Fieldhouse
1290 West Warren Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Wilberforce University versus Wayne State University
2 PM
Alabama A&M University versus University of Detroit Mercy
4:30 PM
Tennessee State University versus Oakland University
7 PM
Admission to all three basketball games is $20.
