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On August 11-12, 2022, The Andrew Goodman Foundation (AGF) hosted Legacy Summer 2022, a virtual conference mobilizing young people to lead civic and voter engagement initiatives in their communities. The event served as the eighth annual National Civic Leadership Training Summit, gathering Andrew Goodman Ambassadors and young people from our partner organizations to hear inspiring panels and participate in training sessions, just as young organizers did ahead of Freedom Summer 1964. 

Young people have always been and will always be the changemakers who push us forward toward a just and inclusive democracy. With anti-voter bills still on the rise in 2022, preparing for the 2022 Midterm Elections is as important as ever. The Andrew Goodman Foundation was established in memory of Andrew Goodman, a civil rights worker who was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan, alongside activists James Earl Chaney and Michael Schwerner, for registering Black Americans to vote in Mississippi’s Freedom Summer. We believe that the movement of young people that propelled Freedom Summer did not end in 1964, but continues on today and will tomorrow through the spirit of young people who persistently fight for equitable voting rights.

August 11, 2022: Reflections on the Movement from 1964 to Today

Legacy Summer 2022 began with hearing from Charles Imohiosen, Esq., AGF’s President and Chief Executive Officer. His Opening Remarks were followed by an Intergenerational Panel discussion featuring David Dennis Sr. (Freedom Rider, AGF Advisory Board Member), Evan Malbrough (Voting Access Project Fellow at the ACLU of Georgia AGF Board Member), and three Andrew Goodman Ambassadors: Josh Dineros (University of San Francisco), Bintou Fofana (Allegheny College), and Grace Kelley (Miami University).

The panel was followed by the 2022 Hidden Heroes Award Ceremony, recognizing six Hidden Heroes for their commitment to ensuring college students on campuses nationwide are registered, informed, and civically engaged during election seasons and beyond. Congratulations again to the following awardees, and thank you for all your hard work to make young voices and votes a powerful force in our democracy!

• Andrew Goodman Ambassador Honoree: Samadi Tavarez, Pace University
• Andrew Goodman Ambassador of the Year: Christina B. Williams, Clark Atlanta University
• Andrew Goodman Campus Champion of the Year: Dr. Karen M. Kedrowski, Iowa State University
• HBCU Service Award: Evan Gross, Prairie View A&M University 
• Rising Star of the Year: Sam Robson, University of Alabama
• Andrew Goodman Campus Team of the Year: Alabama A&M University (Monica Clarke, Amaya Rearden, Austin Smith)

August 12, 2022: Civic Leadership in Action

The second day of Legacy Summer 2022 began with a Keynote Address featuring David Dennis, Jr., the author of The Movement Made Us: A Father, a Son, and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride. The Keynote Address tied back to the Intergenerational Panel of the evening before and laid the groundwork for an action-packed day of learning and connection to follow. During his address, he was joined in conversation by Christina Williams, an Andrew Goodman Ambassador at Clark Atlanta University and Hidden Hero Award recipient. 

The son of David Dennis, Sr., David Dennis, Jr. wrote his book in collaboration with his father to explore the story of the Civil Rights Movement and its continuation in the Black Lives Matter Movement. Both father and son — one the architect of Freedom Summer 1964 and one on the front lines today — share their experiences fighting for change.

Attendees also engaged in a series of workshops surrounding equity, organizing tactics, and institutionalization presented by our partner organizations and Andrew Goodman Campus Teams. The thematic concurrent sessions were followed by two hours for campus presentations and a networking hour. 

Special Acknowledgments

The Andrew Goodman Foundation is grateful for our generous sponsors of Legacy Summer 2022 including Patagonia, Helix, and The Puffin Foundation. Thanks to our sponsors, we hosted a TikTok to Legacy Summer Challenge where young people in the Andrew Goodman Network and beyond submitted TikTok videos about civic engagement for a chance to win a Patagonia Nano Puff® Jacket and a Helix Mattress! We also thank our promotional partners, including the All In Campus Democracy Challenge, All In Together, All Vote No Play, American Promise, Day On Democracy, Deliver My Vote, Democracy Policy Network, The Institute for Democracy & Higher Education, Return My Vote, RUN AAPI, the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, Unify America, and VoteRiders.

Continue to Live the Legacy

Though Legacy Summer 2022 is behind us, our work has just begun. Relive Legacy Summer 2022 by rewatching the sessions on our Legacy Loopback YouTube Playlist! You can also keep the Legacy Summer 2022 vibes going by listening to the official Legacy Summer 2022 Spotify Playlist and the Live the Legacy Podcast. We are moving full steam ahead with the 2022 Midterm Elections approaching, so be sure to stay informed, inspired, and civically engaged with us! 

 About The Author

Mia Matthews is the Program and Communications Manager at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. In her position, she works with student leaders and in communications surrounding their work. She currently lives in Orlando, Florida.