Students in Dr. Grace Adams-Square’s hybrid American Government class at MGA’s Warner Robins Campus recently welcomed a panel of local civil rights leaders for a powerful educational experience focused on civil rights history in Georgia. As part of a research assignment tied to the U.S. and Georgia constitutions, students explored federal and state-level civil rights protections before hearing firsthand from Warner Robins residents who have shaped — and continue to shape — those rights in the local community.
The event featured prominent voices such as civil rights activists Barbara Harris and Jeanette Allen McElhaney, Commissioner Houston Porter, NAACP leader Oscar Thomie, entrepreneur Fenika Miller, and Rev. Dr. Rutha M. Jackson. Speakers shared personal stories of protest, advocacy, and perseverance, encouraging students to stay engaged, vote, and take action for justice. MGA faculty member Ebonie Fraser also spoke about the sociological dimensions of race and her own experiences growing up in Warner Robins.
Dr. Adams-Square, inspired by a Black History Month address earlier this year, organized the event to help students connect historical research with lived experience. Special thanks were given to the student volunteers who helped organize and support the event, and to the community members who shared their stories. The class closed the program with a reflection on the importance of civic responsibility and education.
Read Dr. Grace Adams-Square's full event recap.
