OLASTEO

🚍🌉 Day 5 started with a visit to the Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery to honor 40 men, women, and children who were killed during the struggle. We then travelled via charter bus courtesy of from Montgomery to Selma, to continue our exploration of the roots of the Civil Rights Movement. Ms. Barbara of took us on a historical tour of Selma where we visited the murals of Foot Soldiers park, the George Washington Carver Projects, Brown Chapel AME Church, and Live Oak Cemetery. Walking across the iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge, our scholars felt the weight of history and the power of peaceful protest as we walked in the footsteps of those who marched from Selma to Montgomery to fight for our right to vote. Our hearts were touched by JoAnne Bland's () amazing story and life lessons and were honored by the opportunity to ask her questions. Many thanks to the wonderful Jasmyn Bowie () for coordinating. Today's experiences were a deep dive into understanding, empathy, and our collective potential to inspire change. 🕊️🍖

🚘🔓 After completing our eye-opening interfaith experience , we traveled to Montgomery via charter bus with 🚌, processing Birmingham's powerful lessons during the drive. Settled into our accommodations 🏨, our scholars quickly shifted gears from historical reflection to modern puzzle-solving . The Budapest Express and Antidote escape rooms revealed hidden talents among our group—mathematical minds breaking codes 🔢, observant eyes spotting crucial details 🔍, and new leaders emerging at key moments 🔑. The triumphant cheers of one successful escape echoed throughout the venue 🎉 while our other team may have been hindered by a faulty coded box 👎🏽. Afterward, we enjoyed food from 🍝 and reflected on the connections between historical activism and today's challenges. During tonight's reflection session, we discussed how escape rooms parallel aspects of the movement, requiring strategic thinking, collaboration across different strengths, and persistence despite setbacks. As we prepare for tomorrow's exploration of Montgomery's pivotal civil rights landmarks, these young minds are building both historical understanding and practical skills they'll carry forward. 💭✨