It’s hard not to feel inspired by Terri Sewell ’86, especially when she describes the journey from her childhood home in Selma, Alabama, to her undergraduate career at Princeton, where she was matched with “big sister” Michelle Robinson ’85, then on to Oxford University, Harvard Law School and eventually back to Alabama as the state’s first Black congresswoman. And inspired is exactly how I felt in 2019 as I listened to Sewell’s keynote speech at Thrive, the affinity conference dedicated to “celebrating and empowering Princeton’s Black alumni.” Her message that crisp fall day planted a seed that grew into Princeton Journeys’ Civil Rights Trail Weekend some three years later (thanks, COVID) — a trip that traced the history and legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama, through Selma, Birmingham and Montgomery.
During this journey, Sewell gave another speech to an audience of Princetonians who spent four days meeting with local activists and visiting sites such as the 16th Street Baptist Church, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Montgomery’s Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Like all Princeton Journeys, the goal was to bring a destination to life through experiential learning and storytelling. But instead of being about nature, art or world cultures, the Civil Rights Trail Weekend was about shedding light on a pivotal and painful part of American history — a story of resilience and the ongoing quest to live up to our ideals of liberty and justice for all.
In the pages below, you can read more about Princeton Journeys’ Civil Rights Trail Weekend and our other educational travel programs from this past year. I also invite you to join me in daydreaming of the unique experiences awaiting the Princeton community in 2024: 16 adventures featuring must-see locations, knowledgeable and beloved study leaders, and special access opportunities. Highlights include Buenos Aires: Recent Alumni, a trip built in partnership with 2022 Pre-read author Jordan Salama ’19; Princeton Family Summer Camp: Lake George, a weekend adventure in upstate New York for Tigers of all ages; and Seeking Happiness: The Kingdom of Bhutan, a journey to the last living Vajrayana Buddhist kingdom on the planet.
Want to know more? The Princeton Journeys team is always here to answer your questions and assist you in determining the programs that best suit your travel style. We look forward to hosting you on a future Princeton Journey. Until then, we send our best wishes for autumnal renewal, continued curiosity and perpetual learning.