About this Event
S.M.A.S.H. 2026: PRESS PLAY ON POSSIBILITY 🎧
Every Young Person Has a Track Worth Playing.
Join Empower All, Inc. for the 5th Annual S.M.A.S.H. Summit — Supporting Mental Health Advocacy & STEAM through Hip-Hop on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 9:00 AM–2:00 PM at NC State University’s McKimmon Center in Raleigh, NC.
S.M.A.S.H. is more than a summit — it’s an interactive community experience bringing together youth, families, educators, college students, professionals, artists, mental health advocates, and community leaders to explore the connections between mental health, identity, STEAM, creativity, and workforce development.
This year, we’re turning up the volume with:
🎤 Live performances & Hip-Hop experiences
🎧 Dynamic speakers, authors & special guests
🧠 Mental health resources and conversations
🚀 STEAM, career & workforce exploration
🎨 Interactive activities and community experiences
🤝 Community organizations, vendors & resources
🏆 The FIVE: Year 5 Honors
🍽️ Lunch included
Using the Five Elements of Hip-Hop as our foundation, S.M.A.S.H. 2026 invites attendees to discover their sound, own their story, and build their future.
SIDE A: DISCOVER YOUR SOUND
Explore identity, belonging, voice, creativity, and wellness through MCing, DJing, and Breaking.
SIDE B: BUILD YOUR FUTURE
Turn possibility into action through innovation, STEAM, entrepreneurship, career exploration, and workforce pathways inspired by Graffiti and Knowledge.
And because access matters, students attend S.M.A.S.H. for FREE.
Professional learning opportunities will also be available for educators, counselors, and college/university participants, including eligible continuing education and professional growth credits.
Whether you're a young person figuring out your next move, a parent supporting the journey, an educator creating opportunities, a professional looking to give back, or a community member ready to connect — there’s a track for you at S.M.A.S.H.
YEAR 5. NEW ENERGY. BIGGER POSSIBILITIES.
▶️ PRESS PLAY. Find your sound. Build your future.
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
NC State University – McKimmon Center | Raleigh, NC
Presented by Empower All, Inc. — a community-centered hub connecting workforce development, STEAM, and mental health.
Agenda
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:00 AM
Doors Open
Info: Registration • DJ • Vendors/Resources • Photos
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:10 AM
Drop the Needle
Info: Official Year 5 Opening • Emcee
🕑: 09:10 AM - 09:15 AM
Welcome Home
Info: Empower All Welcome • Album Concept • Five Elements
🕑: 09:15 AM - 09:30 AM
The LINER Notes: The Road to Year 5
Info: SMASH Year 5 Journey • Donovan Performance
🕑: 09:30 AM - 09:40 AM
Breaking
Info: Right Moves Dance
🕑: 09:40 AM - 09:55 AM
The Remix
Info: DJ • Audience Interaction
🕑: 09:55 AM - 11:35 AM
This Is the Time We Go to Work
Host: Dr. Tony Keith Jr. & Dr. Crystal Leigh Endsley
Info: Welcome & Framing • Dear Academy Live Performance • Neuroarts • Blackout Poetry • Quantum Justice • Guided Writing/Working Lunch • Community Mic • Closing Reflection
🕑: 11:35 AM - 11:55 AM
Creative Interlude: Make Your Mark
Info: Lunch • Graffiti • Live Art • STEAM • DJ • Vendors • SMASH Awards
🕑: 11:55 AM - 12:35 PM
Knowledge: Put Me On
Host: Nic Stone
Info: Press Play on Your Story: Becoming Who You Are Before the World Tells You Who to Be
🕑: 12:35 PM - 01:35 PM
Nic Stone Book Signing
Info: Book Signing • Meet & Greet • Photos • Runs concurrently with main-stage programming
🕑: 12:35 PM - 12:50 PM
The Remix
Info: DJ • Giveaways • Audience Interaction
🕑: 12:50 PM - 12:55 PM
Press Play
Info: Featured Artist Introduction
🕑: 12:55 PM - 01:25 PM
Press Play Live
Host: Pierce Freelon
Info: 30-Minute Live Performance
🕑: 01:25 PM - 01:35 PM
The Final Track: Now What?
Info: Voice → Connection → Movement → Creativity → Knowledge → Action
🕑: 01:35 PM - 01:55 PM
The Hidden Track: Possibility Becomes a Pathway
Info: BIG Academy Reveal • Mentorship • Certifications • Training • Apprenticeships • College + Careers
🕑: 01:55 PM - 02:00 PM
The Outro
Info: Thank You • Call to Action • Confetti/Photos • DJ
Event venue & nearby stays
McKimmon Center, 1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.