Miles College News February 17, 2016 Miles College Presents the Third Annual French Lyceum Speakers Series Miles College Officials announce the Third Annual George T. French, Jr. Lyceum Speakers Series. The event will be Monday, February 22, 2016 on campus in Pearson Hall Auditorium, at 11:00 a.m. Congressman John Lewis (Georgia) will be the speaker. The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alabama is proud to partner with Miles College in hosting this stellar event. What better partnership could we offer than to cohost a speaking engagement for Congressman John Lewis, a Prince Hall Mason, while at the same time register our people to vote. The right to vote is something that Congressman Lewis has placed his life on the line and advocated for causing him to be brutally beaten. "Congressman Lewis is deeply respected for the decades of work he has done for civil and human rights in America," said Dr. Geraldine Bell, Chairman of the French Lyceum Speaker Series Committee at Miles College. "It is indeed a pleasure to have a nationally renowned civil rights icon address the Greater Miles College campus community to discuss the work for which he is most known for...bringing people together across racial lines, cultural boundaries, class, gender and varying beliefs." One of the "Big Six" leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, John Lewis has continued to fight for people's rights since joining Congress in 1987. Born near Troy, Alabama, on February 21, 1940, John Lewis grew up in an era of segregation. Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., he joined the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. Lewis was a Freedom Rider, spoke at 1963's March on Washington and led the demonstration that became known as "Bloody Sunday." He was elected to Congress in 1986 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. There will be a Press Conference Monday, February 22, 2016, at the Welcome and Admissions Center at 10:20 a.m. The media can ask any questions that they may have for President George T. French, Jr. or Congressman John Lewis at that time. The French Lyceum Speakers Series, patterned after the W.E.B. DuBois Lectures at Harvard University, serves as a means of student development, by presenting scholars and their body of work for intellectual stimulation, inspiration and encouragement. These lectures recognize persons of outstanding achievement who contribute to our better understanding of African-American life, history and culture. Miles College, located at 5500 Myron Massey Blvd., Fairfield, AL, 35064, is a senior, liberal arts, church related College with roots in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Miles offers 25 Bachelor Degree programs in six academic divisions. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-592-4820 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.