Noell Dickmann

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

That was the message Sybrina Fulton shared with at least 600 people on Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Alumni Welcome and Conference Center, where she spoke as part of Social Justice Week.

The mother of Trayvon Martin explained how she'd lived an average life all of her life up until tragedy struck her and her family in 2012.

Three weeks after his 17th birthday, Martin was shot and killed in a Florida neighborhood by George Zimmerman, who was later acquitted.

Since then, Fulton established the Trayvon Martin Foundation to raise awareness about what she called senseless gun violence, provide advocacy for those affected by it and mentor youth who are both causing crimes and being murdered for them.

The theme for the week at UWO is Working Together for Social Change, and Fulton embodied that as she spoke. Her passion had the room's attention — no one raised a phone to take a photo. Many attendees wiped their eyes as she walked back and forth across the stage, sharing her story from her heart.

Fulton said she wanted to believe her son was killed because he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt but had to come to the realization that it was because of the color of his skin, she said, asking the crowd how America became a place where people hate and harm each other over such a thing.

But, she said, the more important question is: How do we move forward?

It's not just about civil rights, Fulton continued. It's about human rights and being human.

Fulton challenged the audience to be more human: to say hello to the person next to them and respect other people despite their differences.

She encouraged them to be involved in the political process — to research the presidential candidates and find out whose values align with their own, then actually vote. Report for jury duty, she said, instead of trying to find ways to get out of it, and get involved in local organizations that do positive work for young people.

"Remember, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem," she said.

Students said Fulton's talk was a strong start to Social Justice Week. Many said they felt inspired as they walked away.

Jakheel Jackson, who is studying geology, said the message Fulton shared is a conversation that needs to be had on the campus. He was surprised to see the amount of people in the audience, and said maybe she would impact students to spark change.

Alyssa Slack and Gina Fullone said Fulton made what they saw in the news a few years back more real. She was inspirational and strong-willed – they were glad they came.

"It's totally different with people in front of you," Fullone said.

Bryan Jean agreed, and said he was shocked at the difference in how the media portrayed Martin at the time of the shooting and how his mother did that evening.

Fulton had told the crowd how, before he was killed, Martin was learning how to cook; he talked on his phone until it was hot; he'd work to save up money for expensive shoes and he wasn't that good at basketball, but liked it nonetheless.

Jean left the conference room feeling moved by how Fulton is using the tragedy of Martin's death to make an impact, he said.

"It just makes me feel happy that people are actually doing something to make change," he said. "Not just for African-American people, but for everybody."

He plans to attend more Social Justice Week events this week. Other talks include presentations on poverty and development, incarceration, climate change, refugees, human trafficking and gender equality.

Actress Jackie Cruz, from "Orange is the New Black," will give a talk titled "Cruzing through Adversity" at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Reeve Memorial Union Ballroom.

See the full schedule of events at equity.uwosh.edu/social-justice-week.

Noell Dickmann: 920-426-6658 or ndickmann@thenorthwestern.com; on Twitter @ONW_Noell