Immersion & Inspiration
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“ The opportunities our historic sites provide
for learning about important U . S . history have been drawing visitors and groups , from family reunions to conferences , for years , but we ’ re now focusing on marketing Montgomery this way .” - Ashley Jernigan
Immersion & Inspiration
During the Big Ten ’ s 2023 visit , Dr . Lawrence Chatters , Executive Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Initiatives at The University of Nebraska , pointed to the intentionality built into their itinerary as a highlight , as well as the warm welcome . “ The hospitality was so nice ,” he said . “ And the visit exposed these students to the people on the ground in the Civil Rights Movement . It was great to see them find power as they saw such resilience in action ; it was all enriching .”
The impression Montgomery ’ s history made on participants of the Big Ten trips proves its ability to appeal to a wide range of visitors and groups , a fact Jernigan said has been apparent but is now being re-emphasized . “ The opportunities our historic sites provide for learning about important U . S . history have been drawing visitors and groups , from family reunions to conferences , for years , but we ’ re now focusing on marketing Montgomery this way .”
The results are Montgomery Immersion Experiences , which are designed by Jernigan and her team to include tailored itineraries that meet groups ’ specific wishes and needs . The Big Ten group is only one example . She pointed to the 150 people — including the mayor , city council and county commissioners — from Alexandria , Virginia , who recently enjoyed an experience curated just for them . “ They did a remembrance project that connected their history to ours ,” she said . They brought soil from a local lynching site with them and presented it to EJI , while also taking in Montgomery ’ s and Selma ’ s civil rights sites .
Jernigan again stressed the impact these visits can have . “ Everyone who does them moves through this journey of what happened , but also , where we are headed and what should happen next ,” she said , “ and everyone leaves feeling empowered and energized .”
In a service project during the 2023 trip , student-athletes stuffed back-to-school backpacks for Selma children with pencils , notebooks and sports balls .
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