Marian Wright Edelman to keynote the 2013 Heritage Convocation at Alcorn
Alcorn State, Miss. (January 10, 2013) – The founder and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund Marian Wright Edelman will bring to remembrance the great legacy of Alcorn State University as she delivers the keynote address at the 2013 Heritage Convocation in the historic Oakland Memorial Chapel at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 7.
Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence Myrlie Evers will introduce her long-time friend and colleague. “Being in the company of like minded people creates an atmosphere for enrichment. Edelman understands the history of Alcorn, for she, too is living history and a collaborator for equality and social justice,” says Evers.
Edelman, a philanthropist, activist and renowned children’s advocate is a graduate of Spelman College and Yale Law School. She became the first African-American woman to be admitted to the Mississippi Bar. Edelman established the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Educational Fund office in Jackson, Mississippi, founded the Washington Research Project and directed the Center for Law and Education at Harvard.
“Thanks to Edelman, children from Lorman, Natchez and Vicksburg spent last summer ‘Beneath the Shade of Giant Trees’ participating in the highly successful Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom School,” Alcorn President M. Christopher Brown II shared with the University. “Her life’s work of empowering our youth through education has inspired generations and momentously influenced our nation.”
During the Convocation, four individuals will be honored for their extraordinary contributions to education with the coveted Heritage Awards – Academic, Agricultural, Athletic, and Access that symbolize the four pillars of excellence at Alcorn.
The Convocation will be webcast live, and is free and open to the public. For more information, contact (601) 877.6130 or www.alcorn.edu.
-ALCORN-
Alcorn State University is a premier comprehensive land-grant university that develops diverse students into globally-competitive leaders, and applies scientific research through collaborative partnerships which benefit the surrounding communities, state, nation and world.
