Foot Soldiers Park proudly awarded four $2,000 scholarships through the Jo Ann Bland Legacy in Action Scholarship program during a recognition celebration held at the Foot Soldiers Park office on May 27. Students were honored alongside their families, friends, and staff for their academic achievement, community leadership, and commitment to advancing the legacy of Selma’s Civil Rights Movement.

Named in honor of Foot Soldiers Park co-founder and civil rights icon Jo Ann Bland, the scholarship invests in the next generation of leaders who are using their talents, education, and service to create positive change in their communities.

The scholarship was established to honor the courage and sacrifice of the Foot Soldiers who helped change the course of American history in 1965, while supporting young people who are building on that legacy through leadership, service, and civic engagement.

2026 Scholarship Recipients

Dereke Devol Furlow Jr.

Dallas County High School | GPA: 3.67

Attending Alabama State University | Criminal Justice

Dereke has distinguished himself through leadership roles in FBLA, Mu Alpha Theta, the National Honor Society, and Beta Club. One of his proudest accomplishments was organizing a bake sale to support a classmate whose family lost their home in a fire. He plans to pursue a career in criminal justice with aspirations of serving as Director of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Reflecting on Selma’s legacy, Dereke shared that he sees the work of the 1965 foot soldiers as a reminder that justice must be protected and upheld so that every person is treated fairly and with dignity.

Samarion Malachi Woods

Selma High School | GPA: 3.60

Attending Bethel University | Computer Science

A standout student-athlete, Samarion has excelled in football and basketball while also serving as an intern at Edgewood Elementary School. Through his mentorship of younger students, he has demonstrated a commitment to being a positive role model and encouraging academic success.

Samarion is a direct descendant of foot soldiers Lonzy West Sr. and Alice Martin West. Inspired by the stories of his family and community leaders such as Jo Ann Bland, he hopes to continue uplifting others through education, leadership, and service.

Cedriauna Eaton

Selma High School | GPA: 3.82

Attending The University of Alabama | Electrical Engineering

Cedriauna’s commitment to service is evident through her work with Edmundite Missions, where she has spent years helping facilitate food distribution efforts, clothing drives, and ACT preparation programs for younger students. A leader in DECA and robotics, she has combined academic excellence with a passion for creating opportunities for others.

She views Selma’s history as proof that progress is built through action and plans to use her education in engineering to expand STEM opportunities for future generations in her community.

Kennedi Nicole Brooks

Dallas County High School | GPA: 3.97

Attending Huntingdon College | Early Childhood Education

Kennedi has demonstrated leadership through her work as a Hope Dealer Intern, participation in Girls State, FBLA, cheerleading, and youth ministry. She also launched a “drug-free anthem” campaign designed to encourage healthy decision-making among young people in her community.

Inspired by the courage displayed by the marchers who crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Kennedi is committed to creating safe and supportive spaces where young people can learn, grow, and thrive.

Investing in the Next Generation

The Jo Ann Bland Legacy in Action Scholarship reflects Foot Soldiers Park’s commitment to preserving the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement while investing in future leaders who will shape their communities for generations to come.

“Continuing the Jo Ann Bland Legacy in Action Scholarship for a second year means so much to us at Foot Soldiers Park,” said Foot Soldiers Park Founding CEO Kimberly Smitherman. “Mrs. Bland believed deeply in young people and in making sure they understood where they came from, what was sacrificed for them, and the power they carry to shape what comes next. Although she is no longer physically with us, her legacy is still very much alive. This scholarship is one way we continue her work — by investing in students who will carry Selma’s story, courage, and spirit into the future.”

As these young leaders prepare to begin the next chapter of their lives, Foot Soldiers Park remains committed to ensuring that the spirit of Selma’s Foot Soldiers lives on through the actions, leadership, and accomplishments of future generations.

For more information about Foot Soldiers Park and its youth leadership initiatives, visit footsoldierspark.org.

On May 6, 2026, Foot Soldiers Park hosted the 4th Annual Juneteenth Oratorical Contest in Selma, bringing together high school students from across Selma and Dallas County for a powerful morning of reflection, courage, and celebration.

The Juneteenth event was created to provide a platform for young people to deliver prepared speeches, showcase their public speaking and critical thinking skills, build confidence, and express their thoughts, feelings, and hopes for the world they are inheriting. This year’s speakers reminded everyone in the room that youth voices are not only powerful — they are necessary.

Held at Selma High School from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the contest centered on our annual Juneteenth theme “Still We Rise.” Each year, we invite students to think deeply about history, identity, justice, and the future — and to use their voices to speak with honesty, confidence, and purpose.

Participants are expected to do research to identify their topic and to develop an original speech or use the work of any famous orator except Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year, we provided a professional training workshop with a debate coach. Students were coached on preparation, content, vocal delivery, stage presence and special tips for overcoming their fears.

Thirteen students from all public high schools and a private academy participated, representing Selma High School, Southside High School, Keith High School, Dallas County High School, and Ellwood Christian Academy. Through their speeches, they explored the legacy of civil rights, the meaning of Black identity, the challenges young Black people face today, and the continuing importance of protecting voting rights and civic participation.

The Juneteenth event was organized and emceed by Angela Benjamin, Program Manager of Foot Soldiers Park, whose leadership helps create spaces where students can be seen, heard, and celebrated.

A distinguished panel of judges supported this year’s contest, including:

• Dr. Gloria Batiste-Roberts, our 2026 Lead Judge, Head Coach of the Texas Southern University Debate Team and Adjunct Professor of Social Work. 2025 International Debate Competition Champion (held in Korea)
• Judge Collins Pettaway, Jr., recently Retired Active Alabama State Court Circuit Judge, 4th Judicial Circuit, (elected 3 Terms) in the Largest Geographical Judicial Circuit in the State
• First Lady Jeannie Evans, longtime nurse, healthcare educator, community leader, speech educator, and former First Lady of Selma
• Mr. Austin Williams, Interim Executive Director of the YMCA of Selma-Dallas County, 2014 graduate of Dallas County High School, and Masters in Marketing Communications from University of West Alabama 
• Mrs. Wanda Howard Battle, Founder and CEO of Legendary Tours, LLC, master storyteller, singer, and civil rights advocate

This year’s winners are:

• First Place:
  Marquel Carter
  10th Grade, 16 years old
  Ellwood Christian Academy
  Score: 491
  
  Marquel spoke on holding fast to faith through tough times and trusting God will give you the strength to push through, even when you feel like you have nothing left.
• Second Place:
  Madison Smiley
  11th Grade, 16 years old
  Southside High School
  Score: 480
  
  Madison spoke about the parallels between the injustices and violence Black Americans have endured throughout history and the recent unrest and killings of ICE protestors in Minneapolis. Madison reminded the audience that when injustice shows up, resistance must follow.
• Third Place:
  DeAngelo Carrion
  9th Grade, 14 years old
  Selma High School
  Score: 459
  
  DeAngelo talked about the enduring significance of Juneteenth, cautioning that its cultural weight is quietly being eroded by the persistent, often invisible forces of systemic racism.

The school that has the first place winner received the highly sought after Traveling School Trophy and the honor of 365 days school bragging rights across all of Selma-Dallas County, Alabama. This year, Ellwood Christian Academy (ECA) took the trophy from 2025 reigning champion, Selma High School. ECA will post the floor-standing trophy in their main school entrance for all to see.

Foot Soldiers Park extends deep gratitude to Selma High School for continuing to serve as the host location for this important event. We also thank the families, teachers, faculty, and school leaders from Selma High and all participating schools who helped prepare, encourage, and support the students who took the stage.

The 4th Annual Juneteenth Oratorical Contest was more than a competition. It was a reminder of what happens when young people are given a platform to speak truth, honor history, and imagine a future shaped by justice and hope.

Foot Soldiers Park invites the community to continue the celebration at the 5th Annual “Still We Rise” Juneteenth event on June 19, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This year’s oratorical contest winners will be present and share their speeches with the community.

Join us as we celebrate Juneteenth, uplift youth voices, and continue rising together.

Read more about the Oratorical Contest from the Blackbelt News Network

Foot Soldiers Park’s BUILD UP program made its second appearance among young people, joining more than 550 young men in grades 5 through 12 along with local fathers, father figures, and male community members. The “Brothers Rising” event is an annual youth empowerment summit hosted by the Selma City School District focused on violence prevention, mentorship, and positive decision-making for young men across Selma and Dallas County.

Our Director of Programs Carey Fountain and Finance Professor Josh Pierce from the University of Alabama School of Business led a breakout session at the event that introduced students to Foot Soldiers Park’s youth financial literacy program in Selma, BUILD UP. The program equips students with knowledge, practical skills, and tools to build early financial habits and secure their pathways towards stable financial futures.

To allow as many students as possible to participate throughout the morning, the BUILD UP team designed a fast-paced, highly interactive 15-minute experience centered around one core message: the financial decisions young people make today shape the opportunities they have tomorrow.

The session focused on:

• Understanding the difference between wants and needs
• How patience impacts financial success
• The long-term cost of impulsive spending
• Why responsible money management matters as students grow older

Using real-life examples and interactive discussions, students were encouraged to think critically about spending habits, peer pressure, and how financial discipline can create more choices and opportunities later in life.

The session is part of our expanding Youth Engagement and Building Wealth work to increase the financial literacy among Selma’s youth and strengthen the economic stability of the broader community through educational opportunities, tools, resources, and creating community-led initiatives designed to transform disparities into multi-generational wealth. Students were invited to join in future BUILD UP opportunities, helping Foot Soldiers Park begin building a pool of students engaged in the youth financial literacy program in Selma.

BUILD UP is Foot Soldiers Park’s signature financial literacy program for young people in Selma – focused on building students’ practical knowledge around budgeting, banking, credit, investing, and long-term wealth creation. The program was first piloted at Selma High School in October of 2025 and continues to evolve through partnerships with educators, financial professionals, and community organizations.

The Brothers Rising event represented another important step in refining BUILD UP’s model ahead of broader implementation in the 2026–2027 school year.

Foot Soldiers Park is grateful to Selma City Schools for the invitation to participate and to all of the students who engaged so thoughtfully throughout the morning.

Statement from Kimberly Smitherman, Foot Soldiers Park Founding Partner and CEO

The Voting Rights Act was earned by those who marched on the streets of Selma in 1965. The Supreme Court voting rights ruling diminished their sacrifice. And now, millions’ ability to freely exercise their right to vote in the future is in jeopardy.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law weeks after law enforcement chased and beat civil rights protesters, like our late co-founder Jo Ann Bland. She and 600 other  brave foot soldiers marched on the Edmund Pettus Bridge – daring to demand their fundamental right to vote. They risked their lives so that all Americans would have a meaningful voice in our democracy.

In the court’s decision, the justices gutted the law. They didn’t strike it down outright. They did something more insidious: rewrote it to require proof of intentional racial discrimination. But, that’s a lot like asking someone to count how many bubbles are in a bar of soap – the same kind of impossible test they used to block Black voters at the registration office during Jim Crow.  It creates a standard designed to fail and be deliberately out of reach. Some tactics don’t change, they just learn to hide behind new language.

Today, discrimination doesn’t always declare its motives. Discrimination is good at operating in the shadows. It appears in voting bills and precinct closures. Relocates polling places. It manipulates district lines. And now, unless you can prove they harbored racial hatred in their hearts, the law leaves communities like ours with virtually no protection.

But we have been here before. When courts turned their backs in the past, ordinary people stepped forward. They organized, marched, and voted until the law had no choice but to catch up. In the face of the Supreme Court voting rights ruling which weakens a cornerstone of the Voting Rights Act, our answer must be the same. We fight back together. We refuse to be drawn out of power. And we make it undeniable—at the courthouse and the ballot box—that we will not surrender our voice in this democracy.

It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved founder Ms. Jo Ann Bland, a lifelong warrior for civil rights and racial justice. Ms. Bland passed away February 19, 2026 – a day that calls us to grieve, yes, but even more to honor a life that was extraordinary in every sense of the word. She gave everything she had to Selma, to foot soldiers whose stories she refused to let die, and to the generations of young people she spent her life lifting up. We are forever changed by knowing her, and forever in her debt.

Born and raised in Selma, Alabama, Ms. Bland grew up in the shadow of Jim Crow – the American apartheid, as she called it – watching racism and segregation create devastating divides between people who would have otherwise been neighbors, friends and peers. Rather than accept it, she fought it. At eleven, she had already been arrested at least thirteen documented times for demanding voting rights for people. She was among the more than 600 peaceful marchers who walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday and were met with state troopers wielding billy clubs, tear gas, bullwhips, ropes and brutality. She saw a woman fall and heard her head hit the pavement. She passed out, woke up in a car, her head in her sister’s lap, her sister’s blood dripping from wounds that would later require 26 stitches. And still, she kept going.

Ms. Bland went on to integrate Selma’s A.G. Parrish High School, attend college in New York, and serve in the U.S. Army. When she returned to Selma in 1989, she co-founded the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, and later started her tour company—Journeys for the Soul—guiding visitors from around the world through the streets where history was made.

“I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Ms. JoAnne Bland – a freedom fighter and daughter of Selma, Alabama. It was Foot Soldiers like JoAnne who put their lives and freedom on the line for the right of all Americans to vote,”
U.S. Representative Terri Sewell said in a statement written in The Grio.

Her tours were unlike anything else. At one point along the route, she would take visitors to an old slab of cement where the original foot soldiers met before beginning their historic marches from Selma to Montgomery. She would ask each person to find a rock broken off from that “hallowed ground” and hold it in their hand as a symbol of their own connection to the movement and their responsibility to carry it forward.

“I have never seen anyone throw that rock down,” she said. “I’ve seen people try to get more rocks, but I’ve never seen them throw that rock down. And I give them a mission: When you see injustice anywhere and you feel like you can’t do anything about it, you need to go pick up that rock,” said Ms. Bland.

That was Ms. Bland. She didn’t preserve history – she made you feel it in your hand, and she made you responsible for it.

In 2021, she and CEO Kimberly Smitherman founded Foot Soldiers Park to honor the courage of the foot soldiers by finishing what they started. They shared a bold vision, reimagining Selma’s historical significance as an engine for economic prosperity sustained by a vibrant community and transformed into a model for racial justice led by the genius of youth. For the last four years the organization followed that vision, engaging the community, bringing together residents, leaders and partners to build a comprehensive strategy for impact and growth.

From the Journeys for the Soul tours to today’s immersive historic tours, Ms. Bland’s vision to preserve Selma’s history and educate people from around the world about the role of ordinary people in the Civil Rights Movement has become one of Foot Soldiers Park’s signature programs. She made sure the organization’s programs aligned with the issues she felt most passionate about, including youth development programs raising up new leaders, economic initiatives creating wealth, building civic engagement programs that reignite the civic culture that made Selma unstoppable.

For Ms. Bland, preserving the ground where foot soldiers gathered before the 1965 marches was an important act of remembrance. In 2021, she and Kimberly purchased the first parcel of land next to Brown Chapel Church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. launched the voting rights campaign in Selma. Ms. Bland’s dream was to use this land and build a park, memorial and education center that will bring community visitors, activists and civil rights leaders together to envision, create and be a part of the next social justice movement.

“Selma should be a mecca for civil rights,” Ms. Bland often said. She described the park, memorial and education center as a hub where people would visit from around the world, where Selma would finally receive what it long deserved.

Many will remember Ms. Bland as a bold visionary. She was feisty, quick-witted and took absolutely no nonsense. She had a gift of cutting through pretense and saying things that others wouldn’t. On the subject of voting rights, she was blunt: “When you don’t use that [voting] power, you’re slapping me all in my face, and all the thousands and thousands of those who fought for you to have the right to vote.”

She had pointed words for the complacent: “That stuff about ‘standing on my shoulders.’ Get off my shoulders and do what you’re supposed to do. You’re heavy. I’m tired of fighting for you when you’re able-bodied and can do it, too.”

Beneath the fire was a woman who had deep love for and commitment to young people and believed that they hold the key to progress and freedom. She spent countless hours telling children and youth what too few adults tell them – that the Civil Rights Movement was fought primarily by women and children, that they already possess the same power the foot soldiers had, that they are the present of the movement.

“The more stories these children hear about the past from people who were there, it becomes real and not remote,” she said, “and they start to think about how they fit in the puzzle of social change.”

The puzzle of social change was her signature metaphor that will stay with everyone who met her: “Movements for social change are like a jigsaw puzzle. Everyone represents a piece. Without your piece, the picture is not complete.”

“Ms. Bland was an unflinching and unstoppable teacher,”
EJI writes in a news commemoration story.

Ms. Bland did not live to see the park, memorial and education center fully realized, but she secured the land, developed partnerships, attracted like-minded donors and built the team that can carry her vision forward.

“What people don’t understand or don’t think about [is that] the [Civil Rights] movement was not a Black movement. They couched it like that and wrote our history like that, but women didn’t vote, poor people of any color didn’t vote. The rights that [everyone has today] were fought for by people like me, people right here in Selma. And Selma deserves the best. Selma gave so much to this nation. It’s time for someone to give back. Let it be your time.”

— Ms. Jo Ann Bland, November 2025

She was a foot soldier, a founder and a force. Now, it is our turn to let her vision guide us and keep her spirit alive.

Honor her life. Continue her work.

Our founder Jo Ann Bland believed that every person has a piece of the puzzle – and without yours, the picture remains incomplete. Honor her legacy by finding yours. Learn civil rights history. Bring children to Selma. Support the work of Foot Soldiers Park. Show up. Speak out. Vote.

Read more about Ms. Bland in the News

• EJI: EJI Remembers Civil Rights Foot Soldier Jo Ann Bland
• The Grio: Joanne Bland, a noted Civil Rights activist who helped create Selma’s Foot Soldiers Park, dies at 72
• NPR: Remembering civil rights icon Joanne Bland
• AL.com: Alabama civil rights icon dead at 72: ‘Selma lost one of her greatest daughters
• Black Enterprise: Civil Rights ‘Foot Soldier’ Joanne Bland Died At 72
• Black Belt News Network: Selma and the nation remember Joanne Bland, civil rights leader who died Thursday
• WBRC: Civil rights advocate Jo Ann Bland dies
• WVTM: Joanne Bland, lifelong Civil Rights activist and founder of Selma’s Foot Soldiers Park, dies
• WAKA: U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, Selma Mayor Johnny Moss, III remember life of Civil Rights leader JoAnne Bland

We successfully launched our pilot for Build Up, a new financial education program, at Selma High School. On January 21, the school held a ceremony for 111 9th through 12th graders, marking the completion of the course by the first cohort of students and celebrating winners of the stock simulation component.

The three-week program, a part of our Building Wealth impact area covers banking, budgeting, credit and loans, the racial wealth gap, and investment basics. Our goal is to strengthen long-term financial stability and lay the groundwork for generational wealth in Selma, a city long denied investment and trapped in economic challenges, from a high poverty rate, 41% to a low 46% homeownership rate.

“Selma has spent decades working to regain its economic footing. But we know that the path forward begins with investing in our people,” said Carey Fountain, Director of Programs at Foot Soldiers Park. “Our goal with this program is to build financial knowledge, healthy habits and access to support so students can grow into adults who make informed decisions about earning, saving and investment. Ultimately, we’re preparing the next generation to build generational wealth, achieve economic stability, and fuel Selma’s long-term prosperity.”

Empowering youth with financial knowledge has proven long-term benefits for individuals as well as communities. Research links higher financial literacy to greater wealth accumulation, higher rates of saving and investing, and more effective retirement planning. Evidence also suggests that students’ financial education can positively influence their parents, potentially breaking cycles within families.

The Alabama legislature recently passed HB164 requiring high school seniors to complete a one-semester course on financial literacy and money management. Build Up expands upon the state curriculum with additional instruction blending lectures, simulations, discussions, and hands-on activities exploring mortgages, credit, and stocks and savings strategies. Build Up also brings in financial literacy professionals and provides teacher training, easing the burden on educators who may not have deep financial expertise and creating a sustainable system to ensure every student receives high-quality financial instruction, regardless of a school’s prior resources.

One hundred and eleven Selma High School students completed the pilot designed by Fountain and Joshua Pierce, Professor of Finance and Associate Head of the Economics, Finance and Legal Studies at the University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business.

“The program is definitely important right now,” said Selma High Principal Stoney Pritchett. “A lot of these college students will walk into college, and the first thing they do is get a major credit card, and they’re in debt, and some go to college in debt because they’re taking out loans. [This program] is preparing the students and making them aware of what they need to do or how they need to invest or pay attention to their spending.”

As part of the stock simulation component of the course, student teams are provided a real-life $50 investment opportunity. 9th grader Chandler Wesley received a $250 cash prize for winning first place in sound investment reasoning and performance. Ninth grader Zariah Williams won $175 with second place and 11th grader Gavin Perry won $75 with third place.

Foot Soldiers Park plans to refine the Build Up program based on lessons from the pilot and to open it to all high school grades, with future expansion into other high schools as well as elementary schools. Later this year, the organization will also launch a program targeting adults.

Voter registration information is important to know before you head to the polls to cast your ballot.

1. Check your voter registration status!

In all states (with the exception of Maine and Wyoming) voters can check their voter registration status online.

2. Register to vote!

Most states (with the exception of Texas, Maine, South Dakota, Wyoming, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Arkansas and Montana) allow online voter registration.

Visit vote.gov to register and to find additional information if your state does not allow online registration.

PS: Don’t leave it to the last minute! Many states require registration to be completed 30 days prior to election day.

3. Learn about early and absentee voting

Many states allow voting early in person or by mail-in absentee ballot. Some states allow any voter to vote early or absentee while other states have specific requirements.

Check out your state’s laws about early in-person and absentee voting.

Throughout her career, Vice President Harris has worked to combat the influx of corporate money into politics and to protect and expand voting rights. As Senator, she was a co-sponsor of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. She received an A+ from End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund for her work fighting for our democracy.

Vice President Harris has led the Administration’s voting rights agenda, a role she herself requested. One of the Biden-Harris Administration’s first actions was an Executive Order that sought to provide access to voter registration and election information. It acknowledged the particular barriers faced by Black Americans and other people of color. The Executive Order directed federal agencies to:

• Find new ways to promote voter registration and participation, including by transitioning visitors from agencies’ websites to online voter registration systems and expanding multilingual voter registration information;
• Modernize Vote.gov, the government’s voter registration website;
• Ensure equal access for voters with disabilities;
• Improve access to voting for active duty military and Americans living overseas;
• Ensure access to voter registration for eligible individuals in federal custody and;
• Increase voter outreach, education, registration, and turnout in Native American communities.

VP Harris’ voting rights strategy also focuses on increasing student voter participation, establishing the Elections Threats Taskforce to protect election workers in the face of rising threats and fighting voter suppression laws through the Department of Justice’s challenges to anti-voter laws.

As Vice President, Harris repeatedly convened voting rights leaders and spoke at the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday here in Selma, once again urging Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was “rigged” and “stolen” have destabilized the electoral system and sown mistrust among voters. Throughout his current presidential campaign, he has refused to state that he will respect the outcome of the election, regardless of who emerges as the winner. This month, the ACLU released a report predicting that a second Trump presidency would further erode faith in the fairness of our electoral system and disenfranchise millions.

Project 2025 and Anti-Voting Policies

You may have heard about Project 2025 Presidential Transition Project, a 920-page roadmap for a second Trump presidency, developed by the right-wing Heritage Foundation, together with some of Trump’s closest advisors and appointees.

Project 2025 is an authoritarian plan to concentrate power in the hands of the president and vastly curtail the rights of individuals, including by dismantling reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, environmental protections and protections for child laborers. Project 2025 also outlines a plan to weaken the independence of federal agencies, including the FBI, by firing nonpartisan career civil servants, such as scientists, engineers and attorneys, and replacing them with political allies loyal to the president. Here are some of the ways Project 2025 plans to directly curtail voting rights:

• The Department of Justice would be stripped of its Civil Rights Division, which is responsible for enforcing parts of the federal laws that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).
• The US Census would include a citizenship question. The Census is a constitutional requirement conducted every ten years to to count the number of residents in the United States. The (intended) result of adding a citizenship question would be the intimidation and drastic undercounting of undocumented residents. Census data is used to allocate congressional representation, meaning that communities with large immigrant populations could lose representation in Congress. The Census also plays a central role in determining the allocation of funding and resources, which could dramatically impact the everyday lives and wellbeing of communities.

Finally, the New York Times has reported on covert efforts by right wing activists, allied with Donald Trump and calling themselves “election investigators,” to remove voters from the voting rolls in critical battleground states.

For the next four months, Foot Soldiers Park will continue its efforts to inform eligible voters of their rights, register new voters and encourage participation in the 2024 election. Our organization was founded to honor and continue the work of the Foot Soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement whose bravery and determination ensured the right to vote for all Americans. Once again, our civil rights are under threat. We urge every eligible American to register to vote, encourage their friends and families to do the same and get to the polls on Election Day or during the early voting period.

It’s been a month to remember for Ms. Bland!

On May 17th, Ms. Bland served as the keynote speaker at an event in Youngstown, OH, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Much like numerous cities nationwide, Youngstown grapples with the threats of academic segregation within integrated schools. During her speech, Ms. Bland drew from her early activism experiences to motivate attendees to leverage their power, positions, and influence to create “good trouble” and drive positive change. Co-hosted by the NAACP Youngstown and Mahoning County, the event was highly successful.

Following the trip to Ohio, it was on to Marion, IL where, on Tuesday, May 21st, Ms. Bland was the guest of honor at “A Conversation with Jo Ann Bland”. The evening, sponsored by the Healing Illinois Initiative and the nonprofit Connect 360, showcased Ms. Bland’s lifelong dedication to fighting for rights. Through an engaging Q&A session held at The Pavilion in Marion, approximately 200 guests gained deeper insights into Ms. Bland’s remarkable journey.

At the end of the event, Ms. Bland received two proclamations. The first was from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who declared May 21, 2024, as Jo Ann Bland Day in the State of Illinois. The second was from the City of Marion. A heartfelt thanks to the Healing Illinois initiative and Connect 360 for providing this invaluable platform to shed light on the need to preserve our precious past and build our future.

No one tells the story like Ms. Bland and the foot soldiers who lived through the movement. As always, we invite all of our readers to visit Selma and see for yourself on one of our Journeys for the Soul tours. The three-hour tours, personally conducted by Ms. Bland and other foot soldiers, can cater to any group size, from private tours to larger bus groups. Participants frequently report how quickly time flies, a testament to the engaging storytelling and passion. Additionally, Ms. Bland and her sister, Mrs. Lynda Lowery, offer lectures. For more information on booking and pricing, prospective visitors can visit the Journeys for the Soul website here.