27-04-2025
Hear civil rights activists speak on social justice
The Multi-Generational Community Building (MGCB) speaker series will host an event on May 15 and 16, featuring civil rights activists Mr. MacArthur Cotton and Dr. Frank Smith, Jr.
This two-day program aims to foster intergenerational dialogue, inspire community engagement and celebrate the ongoing pursuit of social justice.
Event Highlights:
Educational Engagements: Mr. Cotton and Dr. Smith will engage with students at Edison School and Thurgood Marshall Learning Center, sharing their experiences from the Civil RightsMovement to inspire and educate the younger generation.
Community Gathering: A public event, 'Anything for the Cause', will be held at the MartinLuther King Center in Rock Island.
This will provide a platform for community members to interact with these influential figures, facilitating meaningful discussions on past and present struggles for equality. This event is free and open to the public.
About the speakers:
MacArthur 'Mac' Cotton was pivotal in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)during the Civil Rights movement. Born in Mississippi, he was deeply involved in voter registration efforts, facing significant risks, including imprisonment at Parchman Farm.
His unwavering commitment to justice continued through initiatives like the Algebra Project, focusing on educational equity.
Dr. Frank Smith, Jr. is a distinguished civil rights activist and historian. As a founding member ofSNCC, Dr. Smith dedicated six years to organizing voter registration drives in Mississippi, enduring threats and violence to combat systemic racism.
After relocating to Washington, D.C., he served four terms on the D.C. Council, focusing on housing and economic development. Dr. Smith is the founding director of the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum established to honor the 209,145 African American soldiers who fought for freedom during the Civil War.
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