Executive Director Rich Savage presents  Ann Baumer with her award at the Civil  Rights Symposium.

 Richmond, VA, July 21st - The Savage Foundation, in  honor of the dedication of the Civil Rights Memorial in  Richmond, recognized the winners of a statewide  essay/poem contest on the impact that Barbara Johns  and the Civil Rights movement had on education.

 Johns, a student at Moton High in Prince Edward
 County, led a walkout in 1951 to protest the poor  andunequal conditions of their segregated high school.  Her actions and resulting lawsuit later became partof the  landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education case.

 “Secretary Baskerville approached us about having an  education component as a part the celebration weekend.  We thought it was a great way to link the efforts of  those brave students of the past with the students of  today. It was an honor to be a part of it,” said Rich  Savage, Executive Director of the Savage Foundation.

 “We dedicate a memorial to those whose efforts made a better,  quality education possible for future generations of  African- Americans. To these young writers and poets I say this:  Every time you use your academic skills to put a pen to paper,  every time you convey a story through written words, you honor  those who gave so much for you to have that opportunity. You  are living memorials to the efforts of Barbara Johns, Oliver Hill  and the countless others whose names are lost but look down on  you today with pride as you accept your awards.”

 -Rich Savage