March 22 – 30, 2008

On Saturday morning, March 22, 2008, Meadville Lombard’s second course on wheels will depart Chicago headed to Memphis and other sites of civil rights significance.  Until the Alabama Limo bus rolls back into Chicago on Sunday, March 30, the thirty participants on this journey of experiential learning will encounter the sites, sounds, and especially the people of the civil rights movement.

This course was first offered in 2006.  Participants on that trip, both students taking it as a credit course and those just going for self-education, had experiences of sitting in churches in Alabama and Mississippi that had been bombed or burned in the 1960s, watching tears accompany memories, singing with a Movement veteran, hearing of efforts now to build inclusive community where 40 years ago there was only separation, and seeing sites of heroism and of oppression.  The Freedom Movement of 40 and 50 years ago became very real and very personal.  Each student enrolled in the course was required to prepare and present a report on a topic related to one of the stops on the trip.  Other presentations were made by the Rev. Dr. Gordon Gibson, the instructor for the course and tour leader.  The 2008 tour will be similar.

Enrollment to take the course for credit will be limited to 15. An additional 15 seats on the tour will be available to the general public. Registration is on a first-come basis and is due no later than January 18, 2008.  Please note that this year the course runs across Easter weekend. Participation for the entire eight days is required for those seeking academic credit and strongly encouraged for all others. (Read about the last time this course was offered here.) 

Contact the Registrar for more information:  773.256.3000 x251 or download a brochure here.