Join Christians in Boston for a transformation experience to understand the Civil Rights Movement and ourselves: Monday October 14 through Thursday October 17, 2024

Led by the Reverend June R. Cooper and Dr. Marrey Embers. Applications Due

Goals of the Pilgrimage

• Acknowledge the living legacy of the white supremacy in our country.
• Learn the history of white racial violence from Reconstruction to Jim Crow.
• Acknowledge the strengths of the African American community to resist white supremacy in the struggle for freedom.
• Create a leaning community with the participants, so that we can consider working on anti-racist activities when returning home.

Highlights of the Pilgrimage

• Visit the Equality Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the new Freedom Monument Sculpture Park
• Visit the newly constructed Mothers of Gynecology Monument at the More Up Campus in Montgomery.
• Walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma and visit other local sites including the Voter’s Rights Museum.
• Daily reflection time with the Pilgrimage facilitators.

Pilgrimage leaders

• The Pilgrimage will be led by June R. Cooper, who is the Theologian in the City at Old South Church in Boston and Marrey Embers who is an organizational development consultant and diversity equity and inclusion trainer. Together they have designed and led virtual and in-person civil rights Pilgrimages since 2014. They will lead three pre-Pilgrimage training events, facilitate the Pilgrimage, and conduct one post Pilgrimage debriefing session.

Preparation for the Pilgrimage

• We expect this trip to be rich with emotions, history, good food, music and conversations. Therefore, to maximize this learning experience preparation for the Pilgrimage includes three (1.5 hour) study sessions that will be scheduled six weeks prior to our departure date. One (2 hour) post-Pilgrimage debriefing session will be scheduled within two weeks of our return.

Scheduling

• The dates are October 14-17, arrive Monday by 3pm and the program will end mid-day Thursday on the 17^th.

Cost

• The expenses will be approximately $800 per person. The cost covers the pre and post study sessions, admission to all of the planned sites, transportation to Selma, and at least one community meal. Participants are responsible for their own airfare and lodging and additional meals.

Registration information

• Deposits are due by July 1, 2024 of $400 per person
• Final payments are due by August 1, 2024 of $400 per person
• Tuition is non-refundable

Payment Options

• To make payment online click the link and follow instructions https://unionboston.churchcenter.com/giving/to/pilgrimage-for-truth-and-justice-alpha
• To make payment with a check/ it should be made out to Union United Church and mailed to the address below:

Reverend June Cooper

289 Wachusett Street

Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

General Information:

Once you make the deposit you will receive our registration materials which includes participant questionnaire, travel information, reading list, and dates for the pre-pilgrimage zoom sessions.

For additional information contact June Cooper or Dorian Brown

junercooper@comcast.net

dorianbrown1987@gmail.com