Dr. L'Heureux Lewis-McCoy '96 at Assembly

In a special assembly on January 22 honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Hopkins was honored by a visit from scholar, activist and alumnus Dr. L'Heureux Lewis-McCoy '96. During his spirited and thought-provoking address, Dr. Lewis-McCoy explained that Dr. King's message to the world was not only a plea for equality but more so a call to action for justice around the globe, and that every individual should play a role in making it happen. 

 

Please watch Dr. Lewis-McCoy's address in the attached video. 

 

At the conclusion of his address, the School thanked him with a standing ovation, followed by a question and answer session. Many students stayed after assembly to speak to and thank Dr. Lewis-McCoy personally, and teachers asked that he come back to speak to their classes later this year. 

 

To learn more about Dr. Lewis-McCoy's work, you can follow his blog: www.uptownnotes.com.

The following is Mrs. Lisa McGrath's introduction of our guest:

 

Good morning, Hopkins. This morning we have a very special guest who is here to help us commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Dr. L’Heureux Lewis-McCoy is a scholar and activist in education, youth culture, and public policy. His research and commentary have been sought for television, radio, and community forums because they concentrate on expanding

conversations, deepening analysis, and creating traction towards racial and gender equality. Dr. Lewis-McCoy is an assistant professor of Sociology, Black Studies, and Public Policy at the City College of New York CUNY. His talks go

beyond “achievement gaps” and “diversity” to highlight the ways that institutions and individuals can foster communities through challenging privileges and building common ground. Dr. Lewis-McCoy is currently completing his book Inequality in the Promised Land that looks at the ways suburban school districts and families deal with issues of racial and economic diversity.

 

As a gender scholar and activist, Dr. Lewis-McCoy looks at the ways that boys and men can develop healthy masculinities in negotiating the social world. He runs the Ndugu and Nzinga African rites of passage program for men and women in New York City. He is also the program director for “Boys Rising and Organizing to Help End Racism and Sexism,” also known as BROTHERS. BROTHERS is a program that trains adolescent boys in Chicago to be allies and advocates in the fight against violence.

 

Dr. Lewis-McCoy’s work analyzes some of the most pressing issues facing the African Diaspora. His commentary has been featured in media outlets such as US World News Report, Diversity in Higher Education, National Public Radio, Ebony, The Root, Slate.com, The Grio, Houston Chronicle and the Detroit Free Press. He has also been published in multiple journals and scholarly anthologies and regularly updates his award winning blog, www.uptownnotes.com

 

Dr. Lewis-McCoy holds a Bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and a PhD in Sociology and Public Policy from the University of Michigan. He is also a graduate of Hopkins School.