GCCC to Host Speaker Sybrina Fulton for MLK Day on January 15
[Garden City, KS] November 28, 2023 -- Garden City Community College will host guest speaker Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, on Monday, January 15, 2024, at 7:00 PM inside the Dennis Perryman Athletic Complex Conestoga Arena, in recognition of Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Day. This event is free and open to the public, sponsored by the GCCC Student Government Association (SGA) and the GCCC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee.
The topic will be "We Are All Trayvon & From Pain to Purpose: The Time is Now to Own Democracy." Years after his tragic death, Trayvon Martin's name is still evoked every day. He has become a symbol of social justice activism, as has his hauntingly familiar image: the photo of a child still in the process of becoming a young man, wearing a hoodie and gazing silently at the camera. But who was Trayvon Martin, before he became, in death, an icon? And how did one black child's death on a dark, rainy street in a small Florida town become the match that lit a civil rights crusade? Fulton has turned her pain into purpose, and has launched a social justice revolution. Through the Trayvon Martin Foundation and her committed fight for change in the Miami-Dade community, Sybrina is showing that even under the worst of circumstances, power can prevail. In this passionate keynote, Sybrina inspires the younger generation to engage in the change: Register. Educate. Vote. Work on Congressional campaigns.
For any questions, please contact Stacey Carr at stacey.carr@gcccks.edu.
- ABOUT SPEAKER:
- Sybrina Fulton
- Mother of Trayvon Martin
Sybrina Fulton is dedicating her life to transforming family tragedy into social change. Since the death of her 17 year old son, Trayvon Martin, during the violent confrontation in 2012, Fulton has become an inspiring spokesperson for parents and concerned citizens across the country. Her book co-authored with Tracy Martin, Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, shares the intimate story of a tragically foreshortened life and the rise of a movement that awoke a nation's conscience.
The publicity surrounding Trayvon's death and the ensuing trial catapulted the country into national debate. Despite the intense struggle of losing a child, Fulton has become a role model to many by turning her grief into advocacy. Remaining strong throughout the trial and ensuing months, she lends her voice to speak against violence towards children and the need to build better, safer communities for all.
Her message not only appeals to people's hearts as it relates to children, but is also one of hope and change, exemplified by her personal experiences and endeavors. As a mother, she inspires audiences to continuously educate their children about civil rights and to help them feel accepted as part of an ever changing society. An honest and relatable speaker, Fulton always looks forward sharing her powerful message with everyone from colleges and legal professionals to community and family organizations, and all other proponents of social justice.
A Miami native, Fulton graduated from Florida Memorial University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English. A proud mother, Fulton worked for the Miami-Dade County Housing Development Agency for over 25 years, and is a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Miami Gardens.
Currently, Fulton is running for office in Miami-Dade, but is still looking forward to speaking.
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Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.