NIC 2023 Civil Rights Pilgrimage

View a Slideshow of the trip

• What: A historical and educational tour designed with intent and discernment to help journey-goers take action against racism. Each day will include a debriefing session and advocacy training sessions will be conducted.

• When: April 26, 2023 - May 1, 2023

• Where: Important sites in the struggle for civil rights in Nashville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, and Memphis

• Why: Participants will educate and advocate in their church and communities.

• Who: Any NIC UMC Lay or Clergy interested in conversations about race, cultural diversity, and systemic equity leading to action. Youth and teens welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult.

• Cost: $599 per person Double Occupancy, $999 Single Occupancy
  Other occupancy options are available.

We have been blessed to receive a sizeable grant from the UMC General Commission on Religion & Race (GCORR) to subsidize the cost of the pilgrimage. The grant application states that it is for initiatives that will include “vital conversations about race, cultural diversity, and systemic equity leading to action." An expectation is that pilgrimage participants will participate in advocacy training activities before, during and after the pilgrimage. This will include attending an orientation via Zoom prior to the pilgrimage, daily discussions while on the pilgrimage, and 3 one hour Zoom sessions after the pilgrimage.

Questions? Email Amania Drane adrane@umcnic.org

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Pilgrimage goals

• Provide a safe yet courageous space of listening and engagement which bridge our faith perspective and an understanding of the UMC Social Principles about the sin of racism.
• Promote advocacy work by providing tools, resources, and training to help participants become educators and advocates in their church and community.
• Create a reflective and supportive space to minimize the trauma of this pilgrimage by having prayer, quiet time, and opportunities to unpack what has been learned and experienced.

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Sites Visisted

• Nashville, TN
  • UMC Discipleship Ministries
• Birmingham, AL
  • St. Paul UMC
  • 16^th Street Baptist Church
  • Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
• Montgomery, AL
  • Legacy Museum
  • National Memorial for Peace and Justice
  • Southern Poverty Law Center
• Selma, AL
  • Footprints to Freedom Tour
  • Edmund Pettus Bridge
  • Selma Interpretive Center
  • Voting Rights Museum
  • Lowndes Interpretive Center
  • Selma to Montgomery Historic Trail
• Memphis, TN
  • Lorraine Motel & National Civil Rights Museum

View the full itinerary

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Civil Rights Pilgrimage Committee Members:

Rev. Toni Lucas, Chair (Albany UMC)
Rev. Beverly Dukes (Maywood: Neighborhood & Lombard: Faith)
Rev. Alka Lyall (Chicago: Broadway)
Rev. Amos Oladipo (Park Forest: Grace United Protestant & Oak Lawn: First)
Rev. Rodney Walker (Chicago: St. Matthew)
Amania Drane (Bolingbrook: Friendship UMC)

Visit the NIC Anti-Racism Page

Sponsors:

• Discipleship Ministries
• General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR)
• General Commission on Archives & History
• General Board of Church & Society
• Northern Illinois Conference Anti-Racism Task Force
• North Alabama Annual Conference

Questions, please contact Amania Drane, adrane@umcnic.org, 630-886-7469.