Fred D. Gray Institute for Human & Civil Rights
Inspiring Change Through Actionable Dialogue
2026 Annual Symposium Highlight Video
OUR VISION
“To sustain and advance human and civil rights by building on the foundational principles of Fred Gray’s legal work and activism through educating, convening, collaborating, by regional rejuvenation, and refurbishing a robust Tuskegee History Center.”
The Deborah Gray
Scholars Program
The Deborah Gray Scholars Program launches its inaugural 2026–2027 cohort in honor of Deborah Gray’s lifelong commitment to civil and human rights. The program invites undergraduate students to embark on a yearlong experience grounded in academic rigor, mentorship, and civic engagement with a focus on voting rights.
Guided by distinguished mentors who serve as Fellows of the Fred Gray Institute, Scholars will take part in a civil rights pilgrimage, virtual seminars, and a culminating colloquium at the 2027 Symposium. This transformative program seeks emerging leaders committed to justice, integrity, and democratic participation.
The Fight for the Vote:
A History of Black Suffrage in America
At the Symposium, we were pleased to debut a new video from the Fred D. Gray Institute on the history of Black suffrage in America*.
The video traces the long journey for voting rights, from the early promises of the 15th Amendment through disenfranchisement,
the victories of the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing fight to protect the vote.
*Original script by Jonathan Entin, David L. Brennan Professor Emeritus of Law at Case Western Reserve University.
Video creation and production by Cole Young.
About The Fred D. Gray Institute for Human and Civil Rights
Inspiring Change Through Actionable Dialogue
The Fred D. Gray Institute for Human and Civil Rights brings scholars, advocates, and community leaders into conversation to carry forward Attorney Fred D. Gray’s legacy and advance civil rights in ways that are deeply informed and practically grounded. Rooted in critical topics such as medical racism, voting rights, human and civil rights law, gerrymandering, and equal access to quality education, the Institute serves as a catalyst for reflection that leads to meaningful action.
Creating a Lasting Impact in Civil Rights
The Institute is more than a convening space; it is a sustained effort to engage today’s most urgent civil rights challenges and to strengthen the networks, strategies, and public understanding needed to meet them. Our goal is to foster dialogue that produces actionable insights and equips individuals and communities to move from analysis to advocacy.
In Practice
One Institute conversation examined the place of civil rights law in an era when the judiciary can appear indifferent to civil rights claims, and explored the relationship between civil rights lawyering and social mobilization. Attorney Gray’s work consistently demonstrated that lawyers do not operate in a vacuum, but in a vital, symbiotic relationship with grassroots activism and community-led movements.
Our Purpose
The Institute supports innovative scholarship that leads to practical outcomes, building on Attorney Gray’s life work challenging medical racism, defending voting rights, confronting gerrymandering, advancing human and civil rights law, and expanding equal access to quality education. It seeks to illuminate persistent inequities, expand civic participation, and strengthen pathways to justice, with particular attention to the region surrounding Tuskegee and the broader national landscape.
From Dialogue to Action
Across programs and convenings, the Institute emphasizes thoughtful exchange paired with forward-looking questions: What are the implications? How can we deepen this conversation? What shall we do? What’s next? The goal is to generate strategic, informed action and to strengthen the capacity of those working toward justice.
Community and Connection
Across the Institute’s convenings, we prioritize both meaningful programming and the unstructured time that allows relationships and ideas to deepen. Our events often feature diverse speakers and thoughtfully moderated conversations, with space for participants to engage through Q&A, reflection, and small-group discussion, as well as time before, during, and after formal sessions for generative conversation and connection.
our network
A Diverse Community of Changemakers
Across the Institute’s programs and convenings, we engage a broad community committed to advancing civil and human rights, including:
- Lawyers, judges, law professors, and students
- Community organizers, advocates, public officials, and activists
- Voting rights leaders, medical ethicists, historians, and educators
- Philanthropic and civic partners invested in building a more just society
- Engaged citizens committed to learning, contributing, and taking action
Together, this community strengthens the Institute’s work through shared dialogue, practical collaboration, and a sustained commitment to equality and human dignity.
Make an Enduring Impact
Partnership Levels
Gray Institute Partner
$1,000 (one-time or annual gift)
Senior Partner
$2,500 (one-time or annual gift)
Sustaining Partner
$5,000 (one-time or annual gift)
Founding Partners
Join us in 2024 and 2025 to become a Founding Partner,
collaborating with Mr. Gray to ensure the Institute’s success.
Partners Program
By joining the Gray Institute Partners, you’re not only supporting Mr. Gray’s vision, but you’re also becoming part of a movement that will shape the future of civil rights in America.
To join, please fill out the form below. Make sure to include your first name, last name, and email address. This information will allow us to add you to our Partners Directory and keep you informed about upcoming opportunities and initiatives.
The Fred D. Gray Institute for Human and Civil Rights is part of the Tuskegee Human & Civil Rights Multicultural Center, aka Tuskegee History Center (the Center), is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and its EIN is 72-1378363.
Stay in touch
Join Our Community of Changemakers
Stay connected with the Fred D. Gray Institute and receive the latest updates on our Inaugural National Symposium! Sign up to receive important announcements, speaker additions, session highlights, and future event invitations. Symposium or Donation Questions? Please email us at info@fredgrayinstitute.com.