A series of events took place in Alabama and throughout the South in the 1950s and 60s that culminated in the ultimate passage of the 1964 National Civil Rights Act and the 1965 National Voting Rights Act. On this six-day, five-night pilgrimage, you'll learn how each event, from the day in 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery to the role of Unitarian Universalists, especially the Rev. James Reeb and Ms. Viola Liuzzo during the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March, moved the arc of the universe a little closer to justice.
On this Pilgrimage, you'll visit historic sites, walk about the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, and meet unsung heroes and foot soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement. As a spiritual pilgrimage, we'll reflect on what we experience together so when we each return home, we can apply what we have learned to make a difference in today's world.
Now is the time to gain the knowledge you need to build a community of leaders who will stand in the gap as brave veteran of the civil rights struggle have done for so many decades.
Come take your place on this long trail of history. Come see, learn, sing, and make a new way in the struggle for justice.
The time is NOW!
On this Pilgrimage, you'll visit historic sites, walk about the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, and meet unsung heroes and foot soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement. As a spiritual pilgrimage, we'll reflect on what we experience together so when we each return home, we can apply what we have learned to make a difference in today's world.
Now is the time to gain the knowledge you need to build a community of leaders who will stand in the gap as brave veteran of the civil rights struggle have done for so many decades.
Come take your place on this long trail of history. Come see, learn, sing, and make a new way in the struggle for justice.
The time is NOW!
Pilgrimage Staff
This Living Legacy Pilgrimage and ETA provide four staff on this journey to provide education, music, and tour management. They are:
Civil Rights Movement Educators
Kristin Famula
Kristin Famula is a longtime Unitarian Universalist. She has served as a religious educator in UU congregations around the U.S. for over 15 years. In 2019 she finally responded to a call towards UU ministry she had felt since childhood and is in the final stages of a path to ordination. She currently serves as contract minister at the UU congregation in Ogden UT. Kristin has led many experiential learning opportunities for people of all ages through LLP, the Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice; and in peacebuilding programs with the National Peace Academy.
Tessa Ellis Ocasio
In addition to having taught in the public schools of Virginia for the past 19 years, Tessa Ellis Ocasio is also a well-regarded public speaker. She has facilitated trainings on such topics as life skills, parenting, self-esteem, anti-racism, relationship building, and financial literacy. She is the Racial Justice Taskforce Co-Chair and takes lead for the Black Caucus at Coastal Virginia Unitarian Universalists in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She has served UUA General Assembly on the Safety Team and as a Right Relationship Team Co-Chair. Tessa's passion is empowering people and motivating them to support one another and the communities they serve. She draws inspiration from and is inspired by studying the work of master teachers Michelle Alexander, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Bryan Stevenson.
Music Educator/Song Leader
Arnaé Batson
Arnaé Batson is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and song leader who uses music to create spiritual pathways for health and wholeness while advocating for progressive social change. Her dedication to racial and environmental justice is an extension of her work with the internationally acclaimed ensemble, Sweet Honey In The Rock.
ETA Tour Manager: TBA
A tour manager (TBA) from Educational Travel Adventures will be a part of the team to make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. The tour manager will manage the meals, hotels, bus schedule, museum entrance, and all the other logistic details of the trip.
Registration Information
The Living Legacy Project partners with Educational Travel Adventures (ETA) to manage registration and logistical planning for the 2024 August Alabama Pilgrimage for Epiphany Seattle. ETA is an experienced educational tour company who will ensure that you have a comfortable journey so you can focus places you'll be visiting and the powerful stories you'll be hearing.
Registration deadline is March 31, 2024, or earlier if the trip sells out.
Registration deadline is March 31, 2024, or earlier if the trip sells out.
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Registration Rates
All-inclusive per person rates (except for transportation from your home to and from Birmingham).
Final registration deadline is Mar 31, 2024, or sooner if full. Package includes:
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How to RegisterThis Living Legacy Pilgrimage is being organized in partnership with several Unitarian Universalist congregations. If you're interested in participating, please talk with your Director of Religious Education, your minister, or your youth program staff. They will be able to tell you the process for registering for this Pilgrimage.
When your congregation has made a final decision about participating in the trip, you will then be asked to register and pay through our system and given instructions for doing so. ItineraryArrivals and Departures into Birmingham
Arrival
This Pilgrimage begins at 6:00 pm Central, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Departure The bus will return to the Birmingham airport by 1:30 pm Central on Sunday, June 23, 2024. We recommend that you book a return flight that departs at 3:30 pm or later. Although it's possible that you could make an earlier flight, we cannot guarantee it. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have questions about your departure time. |
Cancellation Policy
All deposits and payments are non-refundable. Trip cancellation insurance is available when you register and is strongly recommended. It enables you and your traveling companion to receive a full refund if you cancel due to a family or medical emergency. If you purchase the trip cancellation insurance and you are cancelling for a non-medical/family emergency reason, you will be covered under our "Cancel For Any Reason Program" and can still receive a 70% refund of your payments made. It also provided coverage in the event your trip is delayed due to an airline flight cancelation resulting from weather or mechanical failure.
Insurance enables individuals to cancel and receive a full refund in the event of a family or medical emergency. Insurance providing medical coverage while traveling, baggage loss and trip delay is already included with your package. Trip cancellation must be purchased within 15 days of making your reservation. It is recommended that you purchase it at the time you reserve. For further information, please see our detailed insurance document. You may purchase travel insurance on-line during the reservation process.
All deposits and payments are non-refundable. Trip cancellation insurance is available when you register and is strongly recommended. It enables you and your traveling companion to receive a full refund if you cancel due to a family or medical emergency. If you purchase the trip cancellation insurance and you are cancelling for a non-medical/family emergency reason, you will be covered under our "Cancel For Any Reason Program" and can still receive a 70% refund of your payments made. It also provided coverage in the event your trip is delayed due to an airline flight cancelation resulting from weather or mechanical failure.
Insurance enables individuals to cancel and receive a full refund in the event of a family or medical emergency. Insurance providing medical coverage while traveling, baggage loss and trip delay is already included with your package. Trip cancellation must be purchased within 15 days of making your reservation. It is recommended that you purchase it at the time you reserve. For further information, please see our detailed insurance document. You may purchase travel insurance on-line during the reservation process.
Sponsor a participant |
Apply for a scholarship |
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We encourage those who are privileged by means of their color or economic advantage to contribute a full or partial registration to our Living Legacy Project Scholarship Fund. This amount will allow a person whose life has been impacted by color discrimination, the legacy of enslavement, racism, and or economic disenfranchisement.
The value of this Living Legacy Pilgrimage is priceless. By donating toward the cost of the trip, you have an opportunity to take concrete action toward healing the wounds of racism. 
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A limited amount of scholarship aid may be available to assist those who do not have the financial resources to afford the full cost of the Pilgrimage. Please complete the scholarship application as fully as possible. Scholarship decisions will be based on the information provided in this application. The number and the amount of the scholarships offered depend on the generosity of our donors.
All scholarship recipients must pay a minimum of $50 toward registration and most are expected to pay more. Applications that demonstrate how you might raise additional funds will be reviewed more favorably. Travel expenses are not included. However, don't forget to calculate the cost of round-trip travel to Birmingham in deciding how much of the registration fee to request. Note: Scholarship awards apply to double-occupancy only. If you do not have someone to room with, a roommate will be assigned to you. The deadline for receipt of scholarship applications is February 29, 2024. Following notification of grant awards, a completed registration form and the balance of fees are due by March 31, 2024. |
