Public Engagement

Details of public engagement for the Muhammad Ali in the UK project can be found below. If you are an organisation that would be interested in hearing more about the project or is interested in public engagement related to it, please get in touch with Haseeb at moseebkhan@gmail.com.

15 May 2023, Manchester Grammar School - 'Muhammad Ali in the UK: Three Stories from Ali's UK Trips'
June 2023, Winner of the Manchester Metropolitan University, History Research Centre Postgraduate Researcher Prize for public engagement
23-25 August 2023, British Society for Sports History Annual Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University - 'Muhammad Ali in the UK: Uncovering Stories from Muhammad Ali's UK Visits'
10 October 2023, Muhammad Ali in the UK, 'The King of South Shields' Film Screening and Q&A with BAFTA nominated director Dr Tina Gharavi, Manchester Metropolitan University
16 October 2024, Roots in Manchester: Building a Digital Exhibition. Screening and Q&A of Karen Gabay's documentary 'Moving Memories: Tales from Moss Side and Hulme' and A Conversation with Lisa Ayegun, Haseeb Khan and Dr Shirin Hirsch on Phil Magbotiwan, The Reno, Muhammad Ali and Len Johnson, followed by afternoon workshops with school students. Organised by Dr Marie Molloy and Haseeb Khan thanks to funding from Ziggi Alexander, Manchester Metropolitan University Schools Engagement Program
April 2025, Muhammad Ali Center inspired Saturday Club sessions. In collaboration with the Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville, who kindly provided educational material I delivered a Society and Change Saturday Club session to students aged around 14 years old. The session utilised the core principles of the Ali Center, reflecting important themes from Ali's life, and discussed Ali as a pioneering poet and perhaps the first rapper. Students produced magnificent written work, art work, and poetry with one student creating a poem/rap, which was subsequently recorded and has been used in further school's engagement work.
June 2025, Delivery of a paper at the World History Association 2025 conference in Muhammad Ali's hometown, entitled "Muhammad Ali in the UK: Roots in Manchester and Louisville, Muhammad Ali visits Phil Magbotiwan, Manchester 1971.
June 2025, Delivered a celbratory assembly to St Peters Catholic High School, Belle Vue about Muhammad Ali as a source of inspiration for young people today.
October 2025, A Week of events at Manchester Metropolitan University, marking Black History Month. This included a series of assemblys delivered to several years groups at St Peters Catholic High School by Graham Shelby, director of City of Ali; Screening of City of Ali followed by panel discussion with Graham, Deej-Malik Johnson, and Geoff Thompson at the University; and a Roots in Manchester celebration community event at the Moss Side Powerhouse.