For Peace I Rise The Musical

For Peace I Rise the Musical is a love story of American Civil Rights Movement activists Reverend Dr. C.T. Vivian and Octavia Geans Vivian. 

When two young freedom riders fall in love, they are bound together by more than a shared commitment to the principles of non-violent protest and a deep faith in God. 

Who Are the Vivians

The poignant love story between Octavia Geans and Cordy Tindell (C.T.) Vivian began in Feb. 1951 with a charming gesture when C.T. escorted Miss Octavia on their first date on her birthday. They married on her birthday exactly one year later. Their love shaped a family legacy deeply rooted in the principles of civil rights and social justice, focusing on education and equality. 

The Vivians moved to Atlanta, the cradle of the civil rights movement, in the early 1960s. Rev. C.T Vivian was deeply involved with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while Octavia worked to desegregate DeKalb County Public Schools. Together and alongside other civil rights leaders, the Vivians helped to change the nation through their scholarly work and activism. Their journey together spanned an impressive 58 years.

Mrs. Octavia Geans Vivian held a degree in social work from Eastern Michigan University. Her focus on the freedom and equal rights crusade took place right in the heart of Atlanta. Mrs. Vivian was instrumental in the efforts to desegregate the DeKalb County Public School system. She was DeKalb County’s first black deputy voter registrar in pursuing voting rights.

From Social Work to Social Justice: Octavia Geans Vivian's Journey

Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient: Rev. C.T. Vivian's Life's Work

C.T. Vivian was a distinguished minister, author, and organizer. A leader in the Civil Rights Movement and friend to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he participated in Freedom Rides and sit-ins across our country. Dr. Vivian also helped found numerous civil rights organizations, including Vision, the National Anti-Klan Network, and the Center for Democratic Renewal. In 2012, he returned to serve as interim President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.