The College of Staten Island Liberty Partnerships Program and the CSI RELAY Team are proud to announce a special fireside chat with civil rights icon Mrs. Lynda Blackmon Lowery on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, at the Williamson Theatre in the Center for the Arts (Building 1P). The event will mark the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and is part of the 28th Annual Gandhi-King Season for Nonviolence.
Mrs. Lowery, a 1982 CSI alumna, is renowned for her lifelong dedication to the civil rights movement. As a teenager, she was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and became the youngest marcher to complete the historic Selma to Montgomery March in 1965. She was brutally beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965 — a day that became known as Bloody Sunday — requiring 35 stitches for her injuries. Despite the violence, Lowery’s resilience and commitment to justice have made her an enduring symbol of courage and determination in the fight for civil and human rights.
The conversation will be moderated by Debbie-Ann Paige, a public historian specializing in African American history and an Adjunct Lecturer at CSI. Paige is a co-president and founding member of the Richard B. Dickenson Staten Island Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) and has led several high-profile historical projects exploring race and race relations.
The event is open to CSI students, alumni, Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) students and families, and community partners. Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to register in advance.
The Liberty Partnerships Program, established at CSI in 1989, aims to support students from underserved communities by guiding them toward post-secondary education and career success. The program, funded by the New York State Education Department and supported by NYC Councilmember Kamilah Hanks (District 49), has been instrumental in shaping the lives of countless students.
The CSI RELAY Team (“Respond, Establish Process, Link, and Intervene, Assess, Yield Growth”) addresses our campus climate to foster a more just, diverse, and inclusive community in which the dignity and belonging of all are respected. CSI RELAY was established in 2023 at the College of Staten Island through initial funding from the Mellon Foundation when they awarded CUNY $5M to expand the Black, Race and Ethnic Studies Initiative (BRESI). This event is funded by the Student Life Campus Activities Board.
The Institute for International Leadership, Nonviolence & Service: LEARN LEAD SERVE Inc., was founded in 2023 to promote peace, conflict resolution, and civic engagement through education and the arts.
The event is co-sponsored by Tthe CSI Liberty Partnerships Program, the CSI RELAY Team, and the Institute for International Leadership, Nonviolence & Service: LEARN LEAD SERVE Inc.
Mrs. Lowery’s powerful story is detailed in her memoir, Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom, which has inspired both readers and audiences worldwide. Her recent accolades include the Theatre Arts & Humanitarian Award at the 2024 International Black Theatre Festival and recognition as one of Alabama’s 25 Women Who Shape the State.
For more information and to register for the event, visit Eventbrite or contact relay@csi.cuny.edu.
ABOUT THE LIBERTY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM
The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) at the College of Staten Island was established in 1989 through the New York State Liberty Scholarships Program legislation (Education Law §§610 and 612; State Regulation: 8NYCRR Part 55). The CSI Liberty Partnerships Program reports to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at the College of Staten Island (CSI). It is funded by the New York State Education support from NYC Councilmember Kamilah Hanks (District 49). LPP is a collaborative college-school-community-based initiative designed to increase students’ motivation and ability to pursue post-secondary education and meaningful employment. The program has graduated thousands of goal-oriented and talented students, providing comprehensive support from the first day of class through high school graduation and beyond. LPP has participated in the Gandhi-King Season for Nonviolence since 2015, reinforcing its commitment to fostering a more inclusive, just, and diverse community.
