Ken Morris Jr. to speak at Tom Johnson Boys Academy event

Tom Johnson Boys Academy of the Mon Valley will host Ken Morris Jr. on Sept. 16, 2026, for its second annual BOLD Speaker Series at Edgewood Country Club in Churchill, Pa. The event will support scholarships for local boys as the school highlights Morris’ work on slavery prevention, human trafficking and education.

Why it matters: - The BOLD Scholarship Dinner helps raise money for college and workforce-readiness scholarships for boys in the Mon Valley. - The event is tied to Tom Johnson Boys Academy’s goal of expanding educational opportunity and post-graduation support for local students. - Morris’ anti-trafficking and prevention education work connects the school’s mission with broader issues affecting children and families.

What happened: - Tom Johnson Boys Academy of the Mon Valley will host Ken Morris Jr. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, for the school’s second annual BOLD Speaker Series. - The event will take place at Edgewood Country Club in Churchill, Pa. - Morris is co-founder and president of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives. - Morris is the great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great-great-grandson of Booker T. Washington. - TJBA says Morris will spend a day with students at the school. - Tickets are limited and available at MyTJBA.org.

The details: - The Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives works to combat modern slavery, human trafficking and systemic oppression. - The organization also provides K-12 prevention education curricula and educator training. - TJBA President Sheila Rawlings said the school and Morris share the belief that education is the gateway to freedom. - TJBA says the dinner supports scholarships that help students access college and workforce pathways after graduation. - The school says every student is accepted into multiple colleges and universities. - TJBA was established by the late Rev. Thomas Johnson to expand educational opportunity for boys in the Mon Valley. - Johnson previously co-founded and led The Neighborhood Academy in Pittsburgh for 18 years. - The school is a faith-based, college preparatory, independent school serving grades 6-12. - TJBA says it has a 100% college acceptance rate and a 75% college graduation rate. - The school was officially renamed The Tom Johnson Boys Academy of the Mon Valley in November 2024. - TJBA operates daily nondenominational morning chapel service. - The school uses small classes with a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio. - TJBA runs an extended school day with three meals and snacks, mandatory after-school programming, athletics, arts, and proctored evening study with tutorial support. - The school also runs an extended school year with a four- to five-week summer session for academic enrichment and cultural awareness. - TJBA offers weekly group counseling, health education and counseling support for students and parents through its 360° Support Program and Recharge Zone. - The school provides academic advising and college counseling. - Tuition starts at $50 per month for families earning $35,000 a year or less, and rises based on income. - The academy is open to boys entering grades 6, 7, 9 and 10, primarily from McKeesport, White Oak, Braddock, Clairton, West Mifflin, Munhall and Homestead. - Morris also plans to host a six-day immersive workshop on history and culture in Edinburgh, Scotland in October. - More information is available through Douglass Travel Club.

Between the lines: - TJBA is using the speaker series to connect fundraising with values-based programming and student exposure to a nationally recognized descendant of two major American historical figures. - The event also reinforces the school’s emphasis on college access, leadership and family support rather than academics alone.

What's next: - The Sept. 16 speaker event will be followed by Morris’ six-day workshop in Edinburgh in October. - TJBA expects to use the fundraiser to support scholarships and student opportunity in the Mon Valley. - Interested attendees can purchase limited tickets at MyTJBA.org.