By Ebonee Johnikin, Communications Director, Foundation for the Mid South
Full Circle Futures Series – Post 1
Welcome to Full Circle Futures, a new blog series from the Foundation for the Mid South that celebrates the power of mentorship, growth, and investing in the next generation. We begin with a special full circle moment between one of our interns and his former teacher, who are now both part of our team.
Some stories come full circle in ways you don’t expect. They unfold quietly, meaningfully, and right when you need them to. That’s what happened at the Foundation for the Mid South this summer, when a familiar face walked through the door as a new intern.
Adam Tolliver, the Foundation’s current communications intern, had just stepped inside when he spotted someone he knew right away. George Stewart, now the Foundation’s Education Program Coordinator, was one of the first people Adam saw. Years earlier, George had taught Adam 7th grade social studies at Whitten Middle School in Jackson, Mississippi. In an instant, they both recognized each other. The former student and the former teacher, together again, but this time in a new setting.
“It was kind of funny, because I never saw myself being in the same room as him again, especially not professionally. Being able to work alongside my former middle school teacher felt like a pat on the back. I reached a peak, but not the final one, and it reminded me to keep going,” Adam shared, still surprised by the reunion.
In the fast-moving world of nonprofit work, these moments often get lost in the shuffle. But this one deserved a second look. The student has become a professional, and the teacher is now a mentor in a new way. Their reunion is more than a coincidence. It is a glimpse into the long-term impact the Foundation hopes to make across education, community, and leadership in the Mid South.
Adam remembers George as a calm presence in the classroom, someone who gave students space to think, ask questions, and grow. Now, working just down the hall, he sees that George still carries that same quiet commitment. Only now it is poured into program strategy, partnerships, and shaping educational opportunities at a regional scale.
“He was my first idea of what a male teacher could be,” Adam recalled. “Before his class, I thought men were supposed to work trades or things like that. He showed me that men can pursue higher education and teach others. It made me feel like I could, too.”
For George, this unexpected reunion has its own weight. While Adam has grown and matured, George says the essence of who he was as a student—curious, creative, thoughtful—still shines through in his work today.
“He was very academically sharp and respectful. You could tell he had something special, even back then,” George said. “Other teachers noticed it too. Adam had a quiet impact on his peers and his teachers. Seeing that same character show up in his professional life has been incredible.”
Their connection is proof that seeds planted years ago can bear fruit in surprising places.
Their story also echoes something deeper. The Foundation’s long-standing commitment to education does not stop at the classroom door. It extends into the workplace, mentorship, and the development of future leaders who are familiar with the region because they are from it.
Rooted in Education, Built for Impact
The story of Adam Tolliver and George Stewart may feel like a rare full-circle moment, but at the Foundation for the Mid South, it is part of something much larger. Education has always been one of the Foundation’s core pillars, a guiding force behind its commitment to building opportunity across Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
The Foundation’s work is rooted in the belief that learning creates lasting change. From supporting early childhood programs to expanding access to postsecondary education, the Foundation invests in school districts across the region through teacher development, community engagement, and student-centered strategies. By strengthening instruction, partnering with families, and improving opportunity pipelines, the goal remains clear: to build a more equitable education system from the ground up.
“Internships like this are important because they give students the chance to practice what they’ve learned,” George said. “They learn how to navigate a professional space and build confidence. It is one thing to learn in class, but it is another to apply it in real time.”
What happened this summer, when a student and teacher found themselves on the same team, is not just a feel-good story. It is a living example of what the Foundation is working toward every day—a region where the people closest to the classroom help shape what comes next. A future where potential is not lost to circumstance but cultivated over time.
“I hope the next generation in the Delta understands that higher education is possible, especially for minorities,” Adam said. “I grew up thinking education wasn’t for people like me. But it is. And it matters.”
This full-circle moment is more than heartwarming. It is a sign that the Foundation’s investments in people matter. When a former student walks back into your life not as a child but as a colleague, that is not just a coincidence. That is the long game at work.
“As an educator, this is what you hope for. You pour into your students and want them to go on and do great things. To see Adam here, to see him becoming that, it confirms everything you hope your teaching can inspire. It is not just one moment. It is every day I see him in this space, doing the work, showing up with excellence,” George reflected, his pride unmistakable.
As for Adam, he is soaking it all in. He is writing, brainstorming, and learning the ropes of strategic communication. His favorite part? Creating visuals and planning content that tells the Foundation’s story. The internship has helped him confirm what he loves: the creative side of communication.
Raised in Jackson, Adam is one of five siblings, including a twin brother. He is part of the first generation in his family to attend a four-year university, following in the footsteps of his mother, who earned an associate’s degree, and with the steady encouragement of his father. He graduated from Jim Hill High School and is now studying Strategic Communications at Howard University with an emphasis in Advertising. His journey is still unfolding, but the Foundation has become a meaningful stop along the way.
And every now and then, Adam looks up from his desk and sees one of the people who helped him get here. Not everyone gets a story like that. But here at the Foundation for the Mid South, it just so happens that the past and the future sometimes share the same office.
Stay tuned for the next post in the Full Circle Futures series, where we will meet more of the interns helping move the Foundation’s mission forward, one story at a time.