UCO Student Christian Coleman Selected for Social Justice Fellows Program

Nov. 11, 2021

Media Contact: Kyla Carter, Communications and Marketing Specialist, UCO University Communications, 405-974-2127, kcarter25@uco.edu

UCO Student Christian Coleman Selected for Social Justice Fellows Program 

University of Central Oklahoma senior Christian Coleman, an international business major from Oklahoma City, was recently selected for the Memorial Foundation Social Justice Fellows Program inaugural class. 

The Memorial Foundation built the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, located in Washington D.C., ten years ago. To mark the memorial’s 10^th anniversary, the foundation launched several programs, including the Social Justice Fellows Program, aimed at bringing the memorial’s lessons to young individual across the nation. 

Coleman was one of 50 young leaders from across the country that was selected for the program. 

“Experiencing the Martin Luther King Memorial's 10th anniversary as a Social Justice Fellow was a dream. It is an honor and privilege to represent my family, community and university as a part of this momentous fellowship,” Coleman said.

“President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were both in attendance, as well as many global dignitaries and U.S. Congress and Senate members. The ceremony reminded me that the work we do today positively contributes to our communities forever.”

The Social Justice Fellows Program is an eight-week initiative centered around advocacy, community organizing and public policy to build a community of support and develop an understanding of leadership for long-term, sustainable community change. The program features four key components: a distinguished lecture series; a personal learning journey to focus on a key area of interest and practical application; a capstone project focused on building a movement for a current issue at the local, regional or national level; and, concluding with a program in Washington, D.C. for an in-person Congressional component focusing on social justice and public policy.

Coleman’s accolades stretch beyond his recent selection for Social Justice Fellow Program. Through UCO, he has served many leadership roles. Coleman served as the vice president of Central’s Student Association (UCOSA), a member of UCO’s Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT), a mentor for the UCO Black Male Initiative and is an active member of Central’s Black Student Association. Also, Coleman is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and serves as the assistant vice president for the southwestern region. Outside of UCO, he is a mentor for Camp HOPE America, the leading year-round camping and mentoring program for children and teens impacted by domestic violence and a 2020 Newman Civic Fellow. 

For more information about the Social Justice Fellows program, visit www.thememorialfoundation.org/socialjusticefellowship/.

For more information about Central, visit www.uco.edu.

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Cutline: University of Central Oklahoma student Christian Coleman, a senior international business major from Oklahoma City, was recently selected for the Memorial Foundation Social Justice Fellows Program inaugural class.