FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

International Civil Rights Center & Museum Announces:  

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The International Civil Rights Center & Museum is proud to announce Dr. Robert “Bob” Brown as the distinguished recipient of the 2026 Alston/Jones Award. Dr. Brown will be honored at the Museum's Annual Gala on July 18, 2026, which is dedicated to recognizing persons who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to social progress. Concurrently, the Gala is committed to raising crucial funds for the Museum’s ongoing mission to promote civil and human rights.

           The Annual Gala commemorates the historic Greensboro Sit-Ins, which began on Feb. 1, 1960, and it celebrates the successful racial integration of the F.W. Woolworth’s lunch counter on July 25, 1960, six months later. This year's event promises to be a momentous occasion, celebrating the remarkable contributions of Dr. Brown and other honorees to the cause of civil rights.

           Dr. Robert “Bob” Brown stands out as a devoted public servant and a tireless advocate for social and philanthropic causes. From his early involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, marching alongside the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and facing arrest at segregated establishments, to his instrumental role in transforming corporate America, Dr. Brown's life embodies the essential courage and enduring dedication that the Gala seeks to honor. His experiences with racial segregation instilled a deep understanding of the indignities of Jim Crow, fueling a lifelong commitment to civil equality and mutual respect for personal dignity.

           As a former White House advisor and special assistant to President Richard M. Nixon, Dr. Brown has enjoyed a career marked by his steady commitment to open access and equal opportunity. His positive influence spans numerous professional arenas, with each experience bearing the hallmark of his dedication to fostering a more just and equitable society.

           Dr. Brown spent more than three decades driving transformative change within the F.W. Woolworth’s corporation, serving as a public relations advisor to its board of directors while the enterprise was active. Recognizing the underrepresentation of Black employees, his advocacy led the company to become one of the first major corporations to appoint a Black person to its board. His work helped the company bridge the divide between corporate America and populations of people of color. Repeatedly demonstrating a signature commitment to racial belonging and equal status, he championed economic empowerment for minorities, leveraging his influence to create pathways to success for Black Americans. These strategic interventions have profoundly impacted countless lives, leaving an enduring legacy of opportunity for those formerly left out and the possibility of advancement for new enterprisers.

           In his capacity as an advisor, Dr. Brown has served as a trusted counselor to the Board of Directors of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum since its inception, providing strategic guidance during the organization's formative stages.

           Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Brown has left an admirable mark as a civil rights activist, strategic consultant, and generous philanthropist. From his early activism alongside Dr. King to his service as a White House special advisor, Dr. Brown has repeatedly shattered barriers and created opportunities for future generations, all while maintaining close connections with Coretta Scott King throughout her life.

           “Bob Brown is a living testament to the power of resilience, advocacy, and justice. His lifelong commitment to opening doors for others is a beacon for all who strive for a more equitable society,” said Melvin “Skip” Alston, Co-Founder of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. "It is an honor to recognize his incredible contributions and celebrate his impact at this year’s Gala."

           The International Civil Rights Center & Museum invites community members, leaders, and supporters to join in celebrating Dr. “Bob” Brown at the Annual Gala on July 18, 2026. This Black-Tie Optional event will highlight his remarkable journey and reaffirm our collective commitment to "Standing Up for Democracy" by defending civil and human rights.

           For tickets, sponsorships, and additional information, please visit www.sitinmovement.org or contact the Museum at 336-274-9199.

Additional honorees will be announced.

Individual tickets are now available.

About the Civil Rights Museum:

Animating an iconic landmark recognized across the globe, the International Civil Rights Center & Museum opened in 2010 as a comprehensive museum of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and an innovative educational organization devoted to understanding and advancing civil and human rights in this country and the world. It commemorates the Feb. 1, 1960, beginning of sit-ins at a whites-only lunch counter in Greensboro, by the N.C. A&T Four college students — David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr (now Jibreel Khazan), and Joseph McNeil — reflecting careful planning carried out with colleagues at Bennett College. Their non-violent direct action challenged the American People to make good on promises of personal equality and civic inclusion enunciated in the Constitution. The fast-spreading Sit-In Movement ignited by the Greensboro protests served as a historical inflection point, renewing the Civil Rights Movement as a whole.

Sit-In Movement, Inc., was founded in 1993 to acquire and restore the F.W. Woolworth's site of these transformative events and to establish the Center and Museum as a monument to the bravery and initiative of visionary young advocates of full citizenship and social justice.