Clark Atlanta unveils new leadership institution named after civil rights activist

ATLANTA — It’s a partnership involving civil rights leaders focused on advancing the interests of Black America.

Wednesday was the official launch of the Thomas W. Dortch Junior Institute for Leadership, Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment, and Social Justice.

Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was on Clark Atlanta University’s campus in southwest Atlanta where civil rights leaders traveled here along with our local leaders.

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Clark Atlanta University president Dr. George French, Jr. helped kick off the grand opening of the Thomas W. Dortch Jr. Institute on the campus Wednesday.

“We’re not marching anymore, just to be marching,” French said.

It’s a partnership between the university and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.

The institute now has a home they’re calling a living laboratory. It will help advance the South, home to the civil rights movement.

“It’s crucial that we continue to build upon that legacy by nurturing and developing the next generation of leaders. We must prepare them not to be just leaders, but organizers,” French said.

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Melanie Campbell, a national champion of women’s rights, and civil rights and even an advisor to U.S. presidents, has been working hard to get this institute open.

She graduated from CAU and said it’s the perfect place to turn ideas into action.

“It’s about the power of the ballot, the power of the book, the power of the buck,” Campbell said. “This is a place for nurturing young talent. There’s a void out there in some of the narratives that we need to speak to and the only way we’re going to influence that narrative is to train new committee voices to do the research to look at those issues they grew up under or that they live under every day.”

The Tommy Dortch Institute is now open for students, community leaders, and anyone who wants to pour into future leaders and offer solutions.

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