The community is invited to hear Lew Zuchman, an original 1961 Freedom Rider and civil rights activist, speak at the Escanaba Bay College campus on Thursday.

ESCANABA — Lew Zuchman, a civil rights activist and executive director of SCAN-Harbor, will be speaking at 2 p.m. Eastern time Thursday in the Besse Center Theater on the Escanaba campus, with a reception to follow.

The event is free and open to the public, offering a unique opportunity for the community to hear from a veteran of the civil rights movement and a distinguished leader in youth and family services.

Zuchman was a 1961 Freedom Rider, and he played a pivotal role in the struggle for equality from 1961 through 1966. He worked as part of the Mississippi Voter Registration efforts, the Meredith March against Fear, and the Southern Sit-In Movement.

Zuchman has gone on to lead the New York City non-profit SCAN-Harbor for an impressive 35 years, overseeing its transformation into the largest youth service provider in the East Harlem, Harlem, and South Bronx communities. The organization, under Zuchman’s leadership, serves approximately 7,000 youth and 1,000 adults annually, making a significant impact on the lives of the individuals in these communities.

In recognition of his significant role in the civil rights movement, Zuchman has been a featured figure in recent books such as “Breach of Peace” and “Freedom Riders,” as well as video documentaries like “Grandpa Was A Freedom Rider.” He has shared his experiences on various television platforms, including CBS, New York 1, NBC, and CSPAN. He has also been featured in esteemed publications such as the Washington Post, Village Voice, and the New Yorker.

While he is in town, he will be meeting with incarcerated youth at Bay Pines Center, the juvenile detention and treatment facility in Escanaba.

Zuchman will also be connecting with K-12 students in a variety of ways during his visit. Educators, please reach out if you are interested in having your class attend this event in person or via Zoom.

For more information, please contact Amy Reddinger, vice president of Arts and Sciences and Diversity, Equity, and Belonging at 906-217-4068 or e: amy.reddinger@baycollege.edu.