Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce has been named to the board of the directors of the Joseph & Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice & Human Rights as it launches a week-long campaign encouraging all registered voters to cast their ballot in the coming presidential election.
The campaign is meant to honor the legacy of Lowery, who was a minister and a civil-rights leader and helped the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. It will focus on those in Black or underserved communities. Lowery died in March at age 98. Tuesday would have been Lowery’s 99th birthday.
The Lowery Institute “is dedicated to training, developing, empowering, and inspiring leaders to improve their communities for the common good," according to a press release. "It serves this mission by focusing on: civil and human rights; social justice; education; and community health locally, nationally, and abroad.”
Pierce has regularly worked with the institute, serving as a judge for its annual “Change Agent Tank,” which is based on the show Shark Tank and serves as a “a competition that encourages local college students to become social entrepreneurs by combining their passion with social justice interests to create transformational initiatives and movements."
Pierce also is leading the National Basketball Coaches Association’s committee on racial justice, which was formed after the death of George Floyd. He also helped the Hawks transform State Farm Arena into the state’s largest-ever voting precinct.
“Lloyd exudes boundless positive energy and incredible aptitude for mobilizing his peers to address societal issues – a remarkable skill we strive to nurture and glean within the Lowery Institute’s Change Agents," said Cheryl Lowery, CEO & President, Lowery Institute. "Through his work with our Change Agent Tank, it was immediately evident that his passion to mentor and nurture young people went beyond the basketball court,” “We are proud and excited that he will serve alongside us to continue to create Scholar activists who are not afraid to speak truth to power- nor to turn words into deeds.”
“Meeting Rev. Lowery has been one of the highlights of my time in Atlanta and getting to know Cheryl, his family and the great work they are doing has been inspirational," Pierce said. "It’s truly an honor to join the Board and take an active role in cultivating the next generation of leaders to take up the mantle and ensure social justice for all.”
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