• La’Darium Mobley, 13, left, and Vertic Taylor, 12, participate in “circle up,” at Rosedale Freedom Project Thursday, November 1, 2018. “Circle up” is an exercise to allows students to meditate, unwind from their day of school and prepare for the activities at the Rosedale Freedom Project. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America
  • A quote from Audre Lorde is seen at the Rosedale Freedom Project after their “circle up” session in Rosedale Thursday, November 1, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America
  • Instructors Annabelle Guptill, from left, Jeremiah Smith, participate in “circle up” with students Steven Haire, Vertis Taylor La”Dariun and others at the Rosedale Freedom Project Thursday, November 1, 2018.. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America
  • Zakalya Fortney, 14, works on homework at the Rosedale Freedom Project in Rosedale Thursday, November 1. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America
  • Chandler Rogers, 16, gets help from instructor Lydia DuBois at the Rosedale Freedom Project in Rosedale Thursday, November 1. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America
  • A sign displayed outside of Rosedale Freedom Project in Rosedale Thursday, November 1, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America
  • La’Darium Mobley, 13, reads a book during his session at Rosedale Freedom Project in Rosedale Thursday, November 1, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America
  • Instructor Lucas Rapisarda, right, helps Kasha Williams, 17, with work during their session at Rosedale Freedom Project in Rosedale Thursday, November 1, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America
  • Arthur Evans III, left, gets homework instructions from instructor Jeremiah Smith at the Rosedale Freedom Project in Rosedale Thursday, November 1, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America
  • Arthor Hall, left, and Armon McKenzie work on their homework at the Rosedale Freedom Project in Rosedale Thursday, November 1, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America
  • Student Steven Haire gives a tour of Rosedale Freedom Project’s garden, which was created by students, in Rosedale Thursday, November 1, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America

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Eric J. Shelton was a 2018 corps member in Report for America, and joined the team as our first photojournalist. A native of Columbia, Miss., Eric earned his bachelor’s in photojournalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a multimedia journalist for Abilene Reporter-News, chief photographer for the Hattiesburg American and photo editor for the Killeen Daily Herald before joining our team June 2018. He rejoined Mississippi Today as our health photojournalist in January 2022.