About the Scholarship
John Lewis loved Black people unconditionally and he loved justice just as much. With the death of the Georgia Congressman, the world lost a valiant social justice warrior.
Congressman Lewis brought his heart, body and soul to his life’s work. As a young man, he was a global ambassador for nonviolent protests as a path to eradicate injustice. As a congressman, he never wasted an opportunity to champion equity for all of his constituents. He never stopped fighting.
In honor of his life's work, Spelman College has named an endowed scholarship after the congressman. The scholarship will provide a one-time tuition contribution of $10K, which will be awarded every year to five Social Justice Fellows. Led by Dr. Cynthia Neal Spence, C'78, Spelman’s Social Justice Fellows program is a living and learning programmatic initiative designed to create opportunities for a select group of Spelman women to make a choice to change the world through advocacy.
As we navigate today’s turbulent waters, we draw inspiration and courage for our challenges from the congressman’s decades of selfless sacrifice, ardent advocacy and steadfast commitment for not just racial equality, but equity for all.
Letter Honoring the Life and Work of John Lewis
Presenting Our 2022-2023 John Lewis Scholars
The John Lewis Scholars' areas of interest include voting rights, environmental justice, health disparities and mental health policy advocacy. Each in their own way exemplifies the commitment to social justice concerns that distinguished the life and work of Congressman John Lewis.
"We believe that Congressman Lewis would be proud to know that these young scholar activists are carrying on his legacy." -- Cynthia Neal Spence, Ph.D.