LDF Announces Fourth Cohort of the Groundbreaking Marshall-Motley Scholars Program
LDF) announced its fourth 10-person cohort of the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program (MMSP). Launched in January 2021, LDF’s groundbreaking pipeline program will endow the South with the next generation of civil rights lawyers trained to provide legal advocacy of unparalleled excellence in the pursuit of racial justice.
In exchange for a full law school scholarship and professional development, scholars commit to devoting the first ten years of their careers to practicing civil rights law in service of Black communities in the South. The program is named in honor of Supreme Court Justice, legendary civil rights attorney and LDF founder Thurgood Marshall, and iconic civil rights litigator, former LDF attorney, and the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge, Constance Baker Motley.
The 2024 Marshall-Motley Scholars and their respective home states are as follows:
Gabriella Achampong, Pennsylvania
Miracle Bird, Missouri
Cyan Blackwell, Ohio
Jordan Braithwaite, Missouri
Deksyos Damtew, Colorado
Cam Humphrey, Alabama
Aaliyah Pichon, Texas
Naraya Price, New York
Dijon Stokes, West Virginia
Christian Worley, North Carolina
“Today, I couldn’t be prouder to celebrate and welcome 10 more extraordinary Marshall-Motley Scholars to the LDF family. Their unwavering dedication to advancing civil rights, rooted in their diverse experiences and profound community engagement, truly exemplifies the legacies of Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley and the transformative impact our program seeks to cultivate,” said LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai S. Nelson. “These scholars will stand as beacons of justice in the South, and I look forward to witnessing their growth, advocacy, and contributions to reshaping racial equity through the legal profession.”
The 2024 cohort of Marshall-Motley Scholars features a host of deeply dedicated individuals, combining a wealth of diverse backgrounds with impressive professional experiences. Members of this year’s cohort have worked with the Equal Justice Initiative, the American Civil Liberties Union, The Children’s Law Center, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Research Triangle Institute International, and more. They have founded grassroots advocacy groups, led community initiatives, and held leadership positions in prominent student organizations. This year’s scholars have also had impactful internships and work experiences focused on civil rights, racial justice, and environmental advocacy, and have earned an array of distinctions including a White House HBCU Scholar, a Morrill Scholar, and a Robertson Scholar. Bios for each scholar can be found below.
“As we welcome yet another cohort of ambitious young scholars, we have been thoroughly impressed by their profound commitment to advancing racial justice and equity in the South. Each scholar’s enduring passion and dedication to confronting systemic inequities underscore their boundless potential to become civil rights attorneys that will leave lasting impacts on the communities they will serve,” said Jino Ray, LDF’s Director of the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program. “As they embark on this journey, we stand ready to provide the resources and support necessary to empower them as they become advocates for progress and equity in communities throughout the South.”
Over the past four years, LDF’s MMSP has invested in the education and training of aspiring civil rights attorneys to advocate on behalf of Black communities in the South seeking racial justice and equity. Scholars will be afforded a full scholarship for law school tuition, and a reasonable cost of living for room, board and incidentals to alleviate the debt burden that can prevent future lawyers from pursuing a career as a civil rights attorney; summer internships with national and regional civil rights organizations with offices in the South focused on racial justice to jumpstart training in civil rights law; a two-year postgraduate fellowship focused on a racial justice practice in the South; and access to special training sponsored by LDF.
Students continue to face more barriers than ever to attend law school. Studies show that the cost of a private law school education has grown by a whopping 175% since 1985. According to the American Bar Association, student loans take a disproportionate toll on lawyers of color, often forcing them to take unwanted career paths. The support offered by the MMSP is an intentional effort to address the racial and economic barriers that often deter students from pursuing their dreams of becoming civil rights attorneys, and a targeted effort to support the civil rights ecosystem in the South.
Read the full press release and learn more about the 2024 MMSP cohort.