We will be exploring some of America’s most prominent Civil Rights history with the Peace and Justice Institute, May 4 to 8, 2026, arriving in Atlanta on May 3. This trip is a healing and introspective journey into our country’s past and current struggle for racial equality. We are traveling to Atlanta, GA, Montgomery, Selma, and Birmingham, AL, including MLK’s birth home, the Edmund Pettis Bridge, the 16th Street Baptist Church and a full day of learning, dialogue, and reflection at the Equal Justice Initiative’s museum and memorial. In the spirit of PJI, this trip will offer thoughtful challenges, support authentic reflection, build our sense of community and foster a commitment to peace.
Day 1 | Monday, May 4 in Atlanta includes visits to MLK National Historic Park and the King Center, the Walk of Honor, Ebenezer Baptist Church on Auburn Street, The Carter Center, and a PJI family gathering at the hotel.
Day 2 | Tuesday, May 5 includes traveling the Selma-to-Montgomery National Historic Trail with stops at the Lowndes Interpretive Center, Viola Liuzzo Memorial, Selma Interpretive Center and Brown Chapel, walking the Edmund Pettis Bridge, continuing to Montgomery for lunch and a visit at the Dr. Richard Harris House, the Freedom Rides Museum, a civil rights walking tour (Rosa Parks markers, State Capitol grounds, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Civil Rights Memorial Center, and Capital Walk), and a PJI family gathering at the hotel.
Day 3 | Wednesday, May 6 in Montgomery includes visits to the EJI Legacy Museum, Rosa Parks Museum (as time allows), the EJI National Memorial for Peace and Justice, a meeting with an EJI representative, the EJI Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, and a PJI family gathering.
Day 4 | Thursday, May 7 in Birmingham includes visits to Kelly Ingram Park, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and a PJI family gathering.
Day 5 | Friday, May 8 in Atlanta includes visits to the Atlanta History Center and the Center for Civil and Human Rights, followed by departure.
is an author, poet, historian, and storyteller. Valada is the author of seven books, her latest: “For the Children: The History of Jack and Jill of America Incorporated” (2018), the oldest African American family organization founded in 1938. Valada serves on the board of the Crealde School of Art in Winter Park, FL. She is a founding member of the Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ) an affiliate of the Equal Justice Institute (EJI), a member of Bridging the Color Divide, a lifetime member of The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and serves as historian for the Dorothy Turner Johnson Branch. She is a member of the Seminole County branch of the League of Women Voters. Valada is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and is a member of the Washington Shores Presbyterian Church. Valada is a graduate of Marymount College, BS in Marketing. Poetry by Valada can be found at the Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ).
is Professor of Humanities and Peace Studies at Valencia College. He attended Florida State University where he received a BA in Humanities and an MA in International Affairs. His study of human and civil rights began in high school and continued through college. From 1995 to 1998, he engaged with the complexities and nuances of many social issues while working at Capital City Youth Services, an emergency youth shelter in Tallahassee, FL. These experiences, among others, led Paul to Valencia College where he has been teaching courses in Humanities since August 1998 and Peace Studies since 2011. On the twentieth anniversary of his teaching career, in 2018, Paul took a sabbatical to study civil rights history. He spent 4 months reading books and traveling to several Southern states, going to some of the most significant cities, museums and historical sites related to our history of segregation and the struggle for civil rights. His most recent adventure took place in Rwanda (July 2023) to study the country’s colonial past, the genocide in 1994 and reconciliation, forgiveness and peace efforts over the last 30 years. He continues to listen, read, speak, and learn about these topics out of a genuine need to know and understand.
Partial scholarships are available. The funding pool is limited and would ideally go to people who need it the most. Please reach out to Ann Hoff-Fanaian at ann@peacejusticeinstitute.org for details.
The age requirement is 16 years old. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
The inaugural 2024 Civil Rights History Tour was featured in the current edition of the PJI Journal. Read it here.
Please email Ann Hoff, PJI’s Operations Manager, at ann@peacejusticeinstitute.org with any questions.
