Anyone who meets Dorothy Cotton and Shellie Moore Guy, will never forget them. They represent the Multi-Generational Community Building Organization along with Avery Pearl, Glenda Guster, Sherwin Robinson, and Evelyn Day. This group of individuals have brought understanding, inspired community engagement, and provide opportunity for celebration of resilience and identity.
Their plan is to bring inspiring speakers to high school students in the Quad Cities. They have already started changing lives.
The first endeavor was May 16, 2025 at the Martin Luther King Center. They featured Dr. MacArthur Cotton (author and civil rights activist), Dr. Frank Smith (civil rights activist and executive director of the African American Civil War Memorial Museum in Washington DC) and Joy Shannon (award winning filmmaker). The event was titled “Anything for the Cause”.
Dr. Smith organized voter registration drives in Mississippi, enduring threats and violence to combat systemic racism. He served four terms on the DC Council, focusing on economic development and housing. He founded the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum to honor the 209,145 African American soldiers in the Civil War.
Dr. Cotton continues a sixty-year friendship with Dr. Smith. Dr. “Mac” Cotton was pivotal in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights Movement. He was deeply involved in voter registration efforts, facing risks, including imprisonment at Parchman Farm. He was involved in the Algebra Project, focusing on educational equity. He released his memoirs, “Mississippi Black Cotton”, about his work as a foot soldier for justice.
Joy Shannon is a Rock Island native and the producer, writer, and director of the award-winning docuseries “After the LockDown: Black in LA”. She also produced the award winning short film “Rock Island Prison 1864”, among other films and music videos. She has a BFA from Howard University and MA from The American University in Washington DC.
So, you can see, the speaker series are providing interaction with amazing individuals from around the country, but also with a connection to our community.
The group provided an opportunity for students from Thurgood Marshall High School to go to Washington DC last November to see the Civil War Memorial and Museum. They read the names of each African American soldier lost in the Civil War, out loud, in front of the memorial. Their experience was moving and opened their eyes to the real people and tragic events of the time. They hung out with Dr. Smith and were recognized as VIP visitors. They felt seen and recognized how important they were. They even had their first chance to fly and stay in a hotel. It was life changing for them.
The next speaker series will be led by Dr. Lela A Bridges-Webb, Doctor of Education; Dr. Charles Bridges MD, Urology Surgeon; Dr. Carla Bridges MD, Orthopedic Surgeon; Dr. Jason P Bridges MD Urology Surgeon; and Dr. Jeffrey Dormu MD, Vascular Heart Surgeon. Dr. Carla Bridges is doing an orthopaedic surgery bioskills workshop for the kids. How awesome is that! The event is May 21, 22, and 23rd. They will engage with students from Rock Island High School and Davenport North High School. A Community Gathering will be at Second Baptist Church Family Life Center 919 6th Ave Rock Island IL 61201 Saturday May 23rd at 6 pm. Registration is open to the public. You can contact Dorothy Cotton at 309-721-5177, Glenda Guster at 563-726-9226 for dinner reservations.
April 18th they are having a bingo night and catfish dinner fundraiser. Dinner pickup begins at 4 pm and bingo begins at 6 pm. It will be at the Broadway Event Center at 2115 4th Avenue, Rock Island IL. Cost is $15 and includes door prizes and a packet of bingo cards. Dinner includes catfish, coleslaw, spaghetti, and dessert. They would love to us all there!
