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Second screening of Dorchester Academy documentary is Sunday
Dorchester Academy
Dorchester Academy is one of just 11 stops in Georgia on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and was a respite and meeting place for many of the Civil Rights leaders in the 1960s, along with being the home to the first school in Georgia to have students attend 12th grade. Photo provided

Due to strong community interest following its January premiere, a second public screening of the documentary Dorchester Academy: A Legacy of Liberty will be held on Sunday, March 8, at the Liberty County Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and the film presentation begins at 2 p.m.

The screening will mark the official kickoff of the Dorchester Improvement Association’s 2026 “Walk to Dorchester” annual fundraising campaign, supporting ongoing preservation and restoration efforts at the historic Dorchester Academy campus in Midway.

Written, produced, directed, and edited by award winning filmmaker and broadcast journalist Kay Flowers Johnson, the documentary chronicles the history and national significance of Dorchester Academy — a pivotal training ground for leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement. Through archival footage, expert historical insight, and personal reflections, the film illuminates the power of place and the enduring legacy of those who gathered at Dorchester to organize, learn, and lead.

The film is executive produced by Brynn Grant, whose commitment to historic preservation, community storytelling, and public education helped bring the project to life. The production was supported by Katherine Stringer and Travis Stringer, the film’s largest benefactors, whose leadership investment ensured Dorchester Academy’s story could be shared with broader audiences.

The production team extends its heartfelt appreciation to the many families, historians, community leaders, and supporters who contributed to the making of the documentary, and to the generations of stewards who have safeguarded Dorchester Academy’s legacy. Special thanks are extended to the Dorchester Improvement Association for its leadership and to the Liberty County Historical Society, which served as fiduciary for the project.

Dorchester Academy is a National Historic Landmark and a site on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, placing Liberty County alongside Atlanta and Albany as one of only three Georgia communities recognized for their foundational role in the American Civil Rights Movement.