WASHINGTON – The Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications Student Council, also known as For U By Us (FUBU), hosted the Inaugural Black Speechwriters Symposium last week in the Howard University Founders Library Browsing Room. The symposium featured a panel of several notable speechwriters, including Janet Stovall, executive communications manager at UPS; Ashley Mitchell, director of Communications and Digital at We The Action; Desson Thomson, director of executive communications at Motion Picture Association of America; Larae Booker, senior director of partner communications at 2U Inc. and more.

FUBU aims to empower Howard students in an inclusive atmosphere. This very mission is what sparked the idea for the event. 

Michael Franklin, a junior legal communications major, serves as vice president of FUBU this academic year. When he attended the Professional Speechwriters Association World Conference last year, he noticed a lack of diversity. This inspired him to organize an event at the University.

“I decided I wanted to make a forum and event available for Black speechwriters to gather, and FUBU was completely on board with my organization of this event. We felt it was incredibly important that we hold an event like this at Howard University,” said Franklin. 

Franklin noted that Ashley Mitchell’s dialogue stuck out to him. Mitchell spoke about how Black speechwriters have to often footnote their culture and explain things that are familiar to them, but not to their colleagues. 

Andreya Davis, senior communications specialist for presidential communications at Howard, was a panelist at the event.

“Speeches, like words, have power. The Inaugural Black Speechwriters Symposium was monumental not only because it was organized by an undergraduate student at Howard University, but also because it made clear that when a seat at the table isn’t effective, it means it is time to build a new table,” said Davis. 

FUBU plans to host more events this academic year, including the School of Communications Week next semester. Follow FUBU at @CHSOCCouncil on Twitter and Instagram or email at fubusoc@gmail.com for more information. 

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.  For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu

Media Contact: Imani Pope-Johns, Imani.popejohns@howard.edu