John Lewis

== Field Foundation, SRC, and VEP (1966–1977) ==
In 1966, Lewis moved to New York City to take a job as the associate director of the [[Field Foundation]].<ref>Lewis, p. 392.</ref><ref name="cnn-fastfacts">{{cite news |title=John Lewis Fast Facts |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/02/22/us/john-lewis-fast-facts/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416181223/https://www.cnn.com/2013/02/22/us/john-lewis-fast-facts/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He was there a little over a year before moving back to Atlanta to direct the [[Southern Regional Council]]'s Community Organization Project.<ref>Lewis, p. 398.</ref><ref name="cnn-fastfacts" /> During his time with the Field Foundation, he completed his degree from Fisk University.<ref>Lewis, ''Walking with the Wind'', p. 400.</ref>

In 1970, Lewis became the director of the [[Voter Education Project]] (VEP), a position he held until 1977.<ref name="wynn">{{cite web |last1=Wynn |first1=Linda T. |title=John Robert Lewis |url=https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/john-robert-lewis/ |website=Tennessee Encyclopedia |access-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718202229/https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/john-robert-lewis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Though initially a project of the Southern Regional Council, the VEP became an independent organization in 1971.<ref name="ga-encyclopedia">{{cite web |title=Voter Education Project |url=https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/voter-education-project |website=Georgia Encyclopedia |access-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602125300/https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/voter-education-project |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Despite difficulties caused by the [[1973–1975 recession]],<ref name="ga-encyclopedia" /> the VEP added nearly four million minority voters to the rolls under Lewis's leadership.<ref name="encyclopedia-al">{{cite web |title=John Lewis |url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1841 |website=Encyclopedia of Alabama |access-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221161052/http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1841 |archive-date=December 21, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> During his tenure, the VEP expanded its mission, including running Voter Mobilization Tours.<ref name="ga-encyclopedia" />