Social Justice Scholars lead and learn with Community Partners
Social Justice Scholars are placed in a number of sites across the Atlanta Metropolitan area including Bear Creek Middle School, the East Lake Foundation, Southern Poverty Leadership Center (SPLC), R2ISE to Recovery, Silence the Shame, and several other sites.
Damaje A Smith, Political Science and Sociology Double Major, Communications Studies Minor on the Pre-Law Track, ‘27. Intern with the Southern Poverty Leadership Center (SPLC).
Jamarrea Anderson, Psychology Major, Education Studies Minor ‘26. Intern with Silence the Shame.
Keith D. Tillett II, Sociology Major, ’28 Intern with Bear Creek Middle School.
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Learning about the systemic disenfranchisement of Black Americans fundamentally reframed my understanding of education. I came to realize that access to knowledge was not simply a personal achievement, but a privilege secured through generations of resistance and sacrifice. That awareness reshaped my academic journey and continues to guide my commitment to social justice, community advocacy, and public service.
I am a proud Social Justice Scholar for the 2025–2026 academic year and a Policy and Legal Intern with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). As a first-generation college student from Newark, I carry an acute awareness that my education is the product of collective struggle. In the words of Maya Angelou, “I am the dream and the hope of the slave
That realization carried me through the gates of Morehouse College, where I developed a deep thirst for knowledge paired with a responsibility to serve. It also shaped my aspiration to become a civil rights attorney committed to dismantling structural inequities.
As a Social Justice Scholar, I am being mentored by Mr. Ki Harris, Community Outreach Director for SPLC’s Westside Initiative. From the outset, Mr. Harris emphasized that this work would be rooted in community engagement rather than confined to desks or theory.
Through SPLC, I have met with community leaders at Atlanta’s Promise Center, volunteered with the Election Protection Coalition at Flipper Temple during the Atlanta mayoral election, and participated in think tanks focused on advancing justice in English Avenue and Vine City. These experiences have taught me that meaningful change requires proximity, humility, and sustained commitment.
As a student of Morehouse College, I believe service is not optional. It is a responsibility. The Morehouse name carries significance only when paired with action, accountability, and a genuine commitment to community uplift. Knowledge is power. Power is freedom. And freedom, I have learned, is realized not through individual achievement alone, but through collective liberation and service to others.
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My matriculation at Morehouse College has been both transformative and deeply meaningful. As a student leader, I have been afforded the opportunity to serve in a variety of capacities, and some of my most impactful experiences have been rooted in service. As a Social Justice Scholar, I was able to gain hands-on experience within the field of psychology while also cultivating strong relationships within the Atlanta community. Through this program, I worked on a documentary film, assisted in clinical settings, served as a program assistant for the YMCA’s Boys and Young Men of Color program, and further developed my identity as a mental health advocate. Since joining in my sophomore year, the Social Justice Scholars program has been pivotal to my holistic development, shaping both my academic interests and my commitment to community engagement.
My sophomore year also introduced me to additional opportunities to expand my advocacy work through Silence The Shame and the Morehouse College Counseling Services office. Within both spaces, I was selected to serve as a mental health ambassador. As a member of the inaugural cohort of Silence The Shame ambassadors, I received extensive training in mental health advocacy, including certification as a Youth Mental Health First Aider and an Adult Mental Health First Aider. I now teach the youth course to my peers and to select groups throughout the Atlanta community. Similarly, as a member of the first cohort of Morehouse Mental Health Ambassadors, I worked closely with the Counseling Services office to strengthen its connection to the student body, helping to bridge gaps between students and campus mental health resources. Through these ambassador roles, I have helped host major campus events such as the Sip N Soil Cookout and Silence The Shame College Fest, both of which contributed to fostering a safer and more emotionally supportive campus environment.
Lastly, I have had the honor of serving as the Inaugural Mister Morehouse College. As a newly established leadership role, I understood that this position would come with unique challenges, yet it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my collegiate career. From campaigning and being elected to participating in New Student Orientation and the Get On The Bus experience, each moment has been profoundly fulfilling. Two of the most meaningful moments thus far include providing snack bags to students at Dunbar Elementary School before the holidays and escorting my sister queens of the 89th Miss Maroon and White Royal Court during the Homecoming game. Competing against my hometown HBCU, Lane College, with my family present made the experience especially meaningful. As I prepare to pass the crown in the spring, I am excited to see this legacy continue to grow.
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I am a Howard Thurman Honors Scholar and a Social Justice Scholar. This summer, I will have the privilege of participating in the inaugural University of California, Berkeley Center for Research on Expanding Educational Opportunity HBCU Research Program. This program is designed for scholars who aspire to pursue their PhD. During this experience, I will conduct research with faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, receive mentorship from scholars, and prepare for doctoral studies in education and the social sciences. I hope to strengthen and refine my research skills, expand my knowledge of methodological approaches, and contribute significantly to the research that faculty are conducting. I am also excited to learn more about the different pathways toward earning a PhD. Being a Social Justice Scholar has been deeply fruitful. Engaging with like-minded peers, exploring the dimensions of social justice, and traveling to gain a holistic understanding of history and justice has been transformative. Through this program, I have had the privilege of interning at Bear Creek Middle School, which has been both impactful and fulfilling. I have been mentoring students, tutoring and supporting them in their academic progress, and serving as a figure that they can talk to and rely on. Being in a position to pour into the lives of youth and witness their growth continually inspires my commitment to pursuing a career grounded in social justice.
