Three Morehouse College students, Jamarrea Anderson ’26, Keith D. Tillett II ’28, and Damaje A. Smith ’27, have been recognized as Social Justice Scholars through the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership (AYCGL). Through internships with organizations including Silence the Shame, Bear Creek Middle School, and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), these scholars are translating classroom learning into community-centered action across Atlanta.
Together, their work reflects Morehouse’s enduring commitment to civic engagement, equity, and leadership rooted in service. Each scholar is addressing critical challenges in mental health, education, and civil rights while preparing for careers dedicated to justice and the public good.
Damaje A. Smith ’27
Political Science and Sociology double major, Communications Studies minor, Pre-Law track
Policy and Legal Intern, Southern Poverty Law Center
As a first-generation college student from Newark, New Jersey, Damaje A. Smith ’27 approaches education as both a privilege and a responsibility shaped by generations of struggle. A Social Justice Scholar for the 2025–2026 academic year, Smith serves as a Policy and Legal Intern with the Southern Poverty Law Center, where his work centers on community-based civil rights advocacy.
Mentored by Ki Harris, Community Outreach Director for SPLC’s Westside Initiative, Smith’s experience emphasizes engagement beyond theory. He has collaborated with community leaders at Atlanta’s Promise Center, volunteered with the Election Protection Coalition during the Atlanta mayoral election, and participated in justice-focused think tanks in English Avenue and Vine City. These experiences have reinforced his aspiration to become a civil rights attorney committed to dismantling structural inequities through proximity, humility, and sustained service.
Jamarrea Anderson ’26
Psychology major, Education Studies minor
Intern, Silence the Shame
Jamarrea Anderson ’26 has leveraged the Social Justice Scholars program to deepen his identity as a mental health advocate and student leader. Through his internship with Silence the Shame, Anderson gained hands-on experience in mental health education, clinical support, and community programming, while also contributing to a documentary film focused on mental health awareness.
As a member of the inaugural cohort of Silence the Shame Mental Health Ambassadors, Anderson earned certification as both a Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aider and now teaches mental health courses to peers and community groups throughout Atlanta. He also served as a Morehouse Mental Health Ambassador, helping bridge gaps between students and campus counseling resources and supporting major events such as Silence the Shame College Fest.
In addition, Anderson made history as the Inaugural Mister Morehouse College, using his platform to promote service, visibility, and community engagement. From supporting local elementary school students to representing Morehouse during Homecoming, his leadership reflects a holistic approach to advocacy rooted in care, representation, and access.
Keith D. Tillett II ’28
Sociology major
Intern, Bear Creek Middle School
A Howard Thurman Honors Scholar and Social Justice Scholar, Keith D. Tillett II ’28 is committed to educational equity and youth development. Through his internship at Bear Creek Middle School, Tillett mentors students, provides academic support, and serves as a trusted presence in their daily lives. This work has strengthened his dedication to social justice through education.
Tillett will further advance his academic path this summer as a participant in the inaugural University of California, Berkeley Center for Research on Expanding Educational Opportunity HBCU Research Program, where he will conduct faculty-mentored research and prepare for doctoral studies. His experiences through AYCGL have solidified his goal of pursuing a PhD and a career dedicated to research-driven social change.
Through their scholarship, service, and leadership, Anderson, Tillett, and Smith embody the Morehouse tradition of producing men who lead with purpose and act with integrity. As Social Justice Scholars, they are not only studying justice, they are actively shaping it in Atlanta and beyond.
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Student Success