March 18, 2025
While watching protests in 2020, Pete Conroy received a phone call from a frustrated Charles Person, who was also watching the news.
Things had changed from Person’s time as a student protestor in the 1960s. Person was the youngest member of the Freedom Riders, a group of non-violent student protestors in the 1960s who boycotted Jim Crow laws by driving integrated buses into segregated states. Freedom Riders were often beaten and jailed for their efforts to combat segregation.
As Person watched the events on the news, he realized that these modern-day protestors had not received the same training as he did. Conroy, who was recounting the phone call conversation, said that Person added, “We need to come up with a program to teach people how to protest legally, effectively and peacefully,” before hanging up.
Person was passionate about civil rights. This passion pushed him to create the Freedom Riders Training Academy (FRTA), a program that teaches individuals about their constitutional rights, civic engagement, and nonviolent resistance.
Even though Person passed away in January 2025, the FRTA continues to carry on his legacy by educating the next generation of peacemakers/protestors. These 5 Members of the FRTA board were invited to BYU to do just that:
Pete Conroy: Co-Founder of the Freedom Riders Training Academy, Conroy is an environmental conservationist and lifelong advocate for social justice and civil rights education.
Teresa Shadrix: A decorated educator and passionate historian, Shadrix is committed to teaching the lessons of the Freedom Riders and empowering students using knowledge and faith.
Deric Gilliard: Deric Gilliard is a seasoned journalist and activist who champions ethical storytelling, leadership development and inspiring young people to create lasting social change.
Trudy Munford: A courageous Freedom Rider trained by John Lewis, Trudy Munford dedicated her life to civil rights activism, education, and carrying forward the spirit of the 1960s movement.
Georgia Calhoun: A devoted advocate for historical preservation and education, Georgia Calhoun works to ensure that the stories of the Civil Rights Movement continue to inspire action today.
While at BYU, the FRTA was deeply involved, contributing their expertise and fostering meaningful interactions with students and faculty. After being interviewed at the Sorensen Center, they visited with our student athletes and held a Civil Rights Seminar Q & A.
They also met with staff, faculty, and students at the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences before conducting another panel, this time discussing ‘What are the best ways to create positive social change?’ and ‘How can faith and religion be used to combat racism?’
The FRTA appeared on the Y Health Podcast with Dr. Cougar Hall, served as the featured guests at the African American Civil Rights Seminar Reunion Dinner, and visited BYU’s Salt Lake City campus and led a panel discussion on social change in public administration in an Executive Master of Public Administration class.
Tricia Hobbs, Program Support Specialist at the Sorensen Center, said “It was touching to see a shared love of Jesus Christ across faiths and how that love motivates us to impact positive change within our spheres of influences.”
Their biggest event was a campus-wide panel, titled “Hope in Perilous Times.” They held a Personal Civic Involvement discussion and meet-and-greet, during which Calhoun and Munford reflected on their journeys in civic engagement and their personal efforts to address racial justice.
These leaders also honored Charles Person by discussing his life achievements. One of the milestones covered was the Freedom Riders monument Person created with Conroy and the impact such public statements make in today’s political climate.
They presented Person’s new book, “Buses Are A Comin’!”, a memoir that recounts his experiences as one of the original Freedom Riders and highlights Person's journey from a young student in Atlanta to a courageous civil rights leader.
An audience made up of students, faculty, and community members was able to enjoy their insights and ask questions before mingling over refreshments.
Hobbs said, “Trudy [Munford] and Georgia [Calhoun] brought hope by sharing their lived experiences and firm convictions to many students who are experiencing discouragement given the perilous times we live in.” Calhoun’s perseverance, determination, and grit continues to inspire Hobbs.
The FRTA does not work to preserve the past, but rather, to actively shape the future.
Young people especially play a role in creating change, said Shadix, adding that “Young people don’t have the cynicism of the world,” and are able to positively bring about needed reform.
Gilliard referred to Martin Luther King Jr. in order to drive this point in. “He was 26. Young people are able to change the world.”
Munford started her journey as an advocate of social justice at just 18-years-old. She recalls the night of the 1963 church bombing in Birmingham—the same day her minister was beaten in Anniston. “God is always with you,” she said. “What we did then—we can do it again. And we will.”
Shadrix urges students to understand how the law and morality go hand in hand. We can see the role of Christianity in the Civil Rights Movement not just as a sanctuary, but as a standard for power.
“If we want to live as Christ commands,” we have to be aware of our neighbors and live the principles we religiously recite, Shadrix said.
Munford added, “We were trained. And we knew what to do. Now it’s your turn.”
To read more about the Freedom Riders Training Academy, visit frtacademy.org.
