TICUA is remembering the impact of two great American legends - Congressman John Lewis and Rev. C.T. Vivian. Both are Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients, Civil Rights Icons and Nashville's American Baptist College alumni. After graduation, Lewis went on to earn his bachelor's from Fisk University in 1967. Both schools are TICUA member institutions.

John Lewis gave his life to building a better America with justice and equality for all. He began in Nashville by integrating segregated lunch counters, integrating interstate travel on the Freedom Rides throughout the South, marching in the cradle of the Confederacy for voting rights, serving as chairmen of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and spoke before Martin Luther King, Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He spent three decades representing the people of Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives. Read more about how ABC and Fisk are honoring Congressman Lewis.

Reverend C.T. Vivian had a vision for the community. He played a major role in the student-led lunch counter sit-in movement that changed Nashville forever, marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. declaring the human rights of citizenship to vote. Read more about how ABC is remembering Rev. Vivian. 

Our hearts go out to both of our member institutions who are grieving at this time. We are so thankful for Rev. Vivian and Congressman Lewis' lifetime of service to our nation and for making our world a better place.