Civil Rights Attorney Lends Name, Legacy To New Riverview School

RIVERVIEW, FL -- Residents are invited to join the school's namesake, Tampa civil rights attorney Warren Hope Dawson, along with school board members and community leaders as Hillsborough County School District Superintendent Jeff Eakins officially dedicates the district's only new traditional school to open in the 2017-18 school year.

It'll be a student-led dedication with student and staff performances including the Dawson singers and Riverview High School JROTC, the unveiling of Dawson's portrait, the unveiling of the students' self-portrait wall and a celebration of the school's inaugural year.

A reception will take place at 12:30 p.m. in the school's media center, 12961 Boggy Creek Drive, Riverview. The dedication will get underway at 2 p.m. in the cafeteria.

Dawson Elementary combines cutting-edge technology with a small-school atmosphere that embraces a family feel among students, staff and families.

The school's namesake paved the way for the new school with his work to end segregation at Hillsborough County public schools beginning in 1974. An active member of the NAACP, Dawson law practice specializes in civil rights and labor relations. Outside of the courtroom, Dawson has spent many years working for educational and leadership opportunities for the youth in Hillsborough County.

The school district has produced a Youtube video that shows Dawson interacting with students at the school.

Video via Hillsborough County School District