UNW Students Embark on Immersive Civil Rights Pilgrimage Spanning 12 States

In January 2018, five students from Northwestern’s School of Education joined Dr. Ronald Ginn, chair of Interdisciplinary Studies and associate professor of Education, on an immersive Civil Rights Pilgrimage. The 11 day trip, hosted by University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, spanned 12 different states and covered cultural and historical events.

The group toured American cities which played pivotal roles in events during the Civil Rights Movement, such as Birmingham, New Orleans, Little Rock, and Selma. Northwestern students visited historical monuments, museums, and churches, and talked to people connected to significant events from the Civil Rights era. Learning was focused on pre-Civil Rights, the Civil Rights Movement, and current Civil Rights trends in the 21st century. The experiences were used as catalysts to advance the group’s cultural awareness.

Caitlyn Wilbur, a student who went on the trip, reflected, “The trip immersed me in the country’s history, gave me a vast amount of knowledge, and opened my eyes to see how prevalent racial issues are today.”

“It is important for the School of Education to prepare its students to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population of students,” said Dr. Ginn. “The experiences on our trip transformed our perspectives.”