Voices of Change: Meredith College

• Interviewee: Stella Adams
• Born: Springfield, MA
• Date of Interview: June 5, 2021 
• Interviewer: Delaney Rhodes

Stella Francine Jones Adams was born November 8, 1968, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she studied African American History, Mrs. Adams continued her political journey, starting during her time in High School. Her first act of activism took place working to encourage the integration of people with disabilities into the classroom. For Adams, this meant transforming the schoolhouse into one that was accessible after having witnessed firsthand a fellow student trapped in the hallway because she was unable to go down the steps. Mrs. Adams comes from a family of activists. Her paternal and maternal grandfathers worked alongside notable civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Joe Lewis. Aside from the encouragement she received from family members, Stella Adams’ activism resulted from her wanting to prove that she was not exceptional and that the black community and the individuals it encompasses are beautiful and brilliant. Mrs. Adams' husband is her biggest supporter as she works to pull the nation together. She believes her work and that of other activists should always be fun while acknowledging the inevitable difficulties laying ahead. She strives to encourage others to celebrate the little victories because it is the little victories that are the essence of our country.     --Compiled by Delaney Rhodes