(Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
George Floyd’s legacy will continue to be carried out through a new mentorship program created by his sister for Black male students at Texas A&M University.
“We are honored to launch the ‘Be His Legacy’ internship in conjunction with Texas A&M University at Commerce,” said Bridgett Floyd, his sister and president of the George Floyd Memorial Foundation, in a statement. “As we focus on communities, equity, education and police reform, we are excited to have students interested in these areas help us move the work forward in honor of my brother, George Floyd.”
After Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer May 25, the family raised more than $14 million through GoFundMe to help pay for her brother’s funeral, mental and grief counseling and travel expenses for all court proceedings.
Months later, the George Floyd Memorial Foundation was created and made its first donation to the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center, where George previously worked.
Starting in January, Black male students will learn and reside together in the living learning community of the African American Male Mentorship Program at the university. His sister chose Texas A&M University because George attended the university’s Kingsville campus in the mid 90s.
Students will work on “intentional reform initiatives aimed to eliminate police brutality, promote social justice and protect people of color’s civil rights,” throughout the mentorship program.
“The vision of the ‘Be His Legacy’ internship program is to offer a one-of-a-kind experience for our Black men interested in all aspects of civic engagement, education and justice – from voter engagement and education to PR and marketing, to lobbying and fundraising,” said Jayson Douglas, associate director of the A&M-Commerce Office of Intercultural Engagement & Leadership and adjunct faculty of the College of Innovation & Design, in a statement.