02/05/2026
This Black History Month we are honoring individuals who not only made a difference in their community but to the world.
Mary McLeod Bethune
Born to formerly enslaved parents, Mary McLeod Bethune turned education into a tool for liberation. She founded what is now Bethune–Cookman University, advised U.S. presidents, and fought tirelessly for civil rights, women’s rights, and equal access to education. Through the National Council of Negro Women, she created space for Black women to lead and shape policy at the highest levels.
Bethune once said, “Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough.” Her life proved exactly that—vision, courage, and community can change the world.