Brynn Grant passed Dorchester Academy thousands of times before she learned its powerful history and key role in the Civil Rights Movement. Drawing on her experience growing up in rural Liberty County, she explains her personal transformation that led her to champion the story of the people whose lives were touched by the historic events that transpired in this special place. Brynn Grant, the CEO of the Liberty County Development Authority, is a Liberty County native who was honored as the 2025 USA Today Woman of the Year for Georgia. She is the former President and CEO of United Way of the Coastal Empire and the former Chief Operating Officer for the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA).Brynn has served on the Board of Directors of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, Visit Savannah, Georgia Southern University Parker College of Business, Savannah State University College of Business, Oglethorpe Middle School, Savannah Technical College and Junior Achievement.She earned a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Georgia and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia, Leadership Savannah and Leadership Southeast Georgia, where she is a past board chair.She has been honored as the Small Business Chamber of Savannah Community Advocate of the Year, a Girl Scouts of Historic GA Woman of Distinction and a Savannah Technical College Community Star. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx