The school year is set to begin at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) with exciting new developments and initiatives to improve the collegiate experience. Apart from an upcoming launch of a new fitness center and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy and Conference Center, the newest addition to the UAPB experience is the Pride Forum.
A collection of distinguished speakers sponsored by different organizations, the Pride Forum began with Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons on Tuesday, August 26 at 6:00 p.m. in the H.O. Clemmons arena of the Kenneth L. Johnson, Sr. Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Complex. Sponsored by the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, the free, public event is the main attraction for Welcome Back Week at UAPB.
One of the most iconic figures in music, Rev Run is the front man of seminal hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. and has sold tens of millions of records worldwide and is widely credited for ushering rap music into mainstream culture. An inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Run-D.M.C. was named the greatest hip-hop artist of all-time by both MTV and VH1.
Recently, Rev Run has become a highly sought-after deejay and public speaker. Behind the turntables, Rev Run has toured around the world headlining music festivals across Europe and performing at high-profile events at the Super Bowl, American Music Awards, and New York Fashion Week. A dynamic speaker, Run has relayed his positive messages of family, faith, and hip-hop at some of the world’s largest churches and most prestigious universities.
