Public Forum

The annual Public Forum event is the opening event for the National Civil Rights Museum's Freedom Award celebration. Sponsored each year by International Paper Corporation (IP), the Forum enables students and members of the Memphis community an opportunity to hear from leaders in the ongoing struggle for civil and human rights.
Led by a guest emcee, the forum's goal is to expose youth and the community to familiar and new leaders who are taking on the charge of helping to insure rights and equity for others. The aim is to help bridge the gap between everyday people and leaders. The people recognized by the Freedom Award began their life's journey as everyday people but they stepped forward to accomplish extraordinary things because of their commitment to equality, justice and freedom.
Freedom Award recipients address the audience with a short speech abo[TRUNCATED]