About Us
See how we started
Hello, I'm Pete Conroy.
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Shortly after George Floyd died in 2020, my longtime friend Charles Person, one of the original 13 Freedom Riders, called me and said, “Pete, we have to do something. People are rioting and protesting at night. They don’t know what they’re doing. Their message is being overshadowed.” He asked me to help him create a course to teach the value of nonviolent resistance.  From that moment, everything changed.
200 Zoom Calls Later
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Over the next four years, a small group of individuals, including Charles and myself, evolved into a vast team spread across the nation—from Arizona to Alabama and New York. Fondly known as “The Committee,” we gathered every Wednesday on Zoom, driven by our shared commitment to the Freedom Riders Training Academy.Â
We are a team of educators, lawyers, police officers, college students, and emergency and medical workers from diverse backgrounds. What unites us is our shared belief in the freedom of speech, the beauty of our country, and the potential to create a lasting, positive impact in our communities, as Charles inspired us to do.Â
Read Our Stories
Sylvia Fitts
Working closely with a civil rights legend gave me a chance to learn from his incredible story and help create something meaningful that will inspire and empower future generations.
Robert Houston
Serving on the Freedom Riders Park Board and participating in weekly calls with Mr. Person was a life-changing experience. It brought me closer to him and connected me with people from all walks of life.Â
