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Tour Has Hosted Thousands of Educators on Immersive Tours Retracting the Steps of Freedom Seekers from Kentucky to Canada
RIVERSIDE, CA— The third and final “Footsteps to Freedom Underground Railroad Study Tour” of summer 2024 will take place from Tuesday, July 23, to Tuesday, July 30. Founded by Black Voice Foundation Inc., and now produced by Footsteps to Freedom LLC, the eight-day trip provides a unique Underground Railroad study tour experience. Led by experienced conductors and subject matter experts, the tour has hosted thousands of educators on immersive tours retracing the steps of freedom seekers spanning two countries, four states, and over three thousand miles from Kentucky to Canada.
Tour stop highlights include Rankin House, John Parker House, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Oberlin College Archives, Charles Wright Museum for African American History, North Buxton Historical Site, Walls Family Farm, Women’s Rights Museum, Harriet Tubman homesite, and Frederick Douglass NorthStar Newspaper site.
Founded by Cheryl Brown, retired California Assemblymember and Black Voice News Publisher Emeritus, the tour celebrates its 27th anniversary this year. Brown’s children, Paulette Brown-Hinds, PhD, Founder of Voice Media Ventures and Publisher of the Black Voice News, and Hardy Brown II, Chairman Emeritus Black Voice Foundation, and Managing Principal, Footsteps to Freedom, serve as the tour’s lead executives. “Our mother started the Footsteps to Freedom tour to provide an immersive, educational experience that brings to life the rich history of the Underground Railroad, one of our country’s greatest freedom movements,” Brown-Hinds and Brown share in a joint statement. “She believed that understanding the struggles and triumphs of those who sought freedom is crucial to appreciating our collective history and fostering a more inclusive society. Today, the tour remains as relevant as ever, reminding us of the importance of resilience, courage, and the ongoing fight for equality and justice.”
The tour is a transformative learning opportunity built on a foundation of historical empathy that expedites professional and personal growth. “We believe through historical empathy, participants can connect more deeply with the past, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the experiences of others,” Brown-Hinds and Brown add. “This approach not only enriches our historical knowledge but also helps to build a more compassionate and empathetic society.”
Conductors include lead historian and retired history professor Dr. Daniel E. Walker and Kenneth Morris, co-founder and president of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives. “Participating in the Footsteps to Freedom Underground Railroad Study Tour for 19 years has been a profound honor,” Morris says. “As a direct descendant of Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington, I’ve had the privilege of inspiring and empowering thousands of educators over the years with the remarkable stories of my great ancestors and the brave freedom seekers whose resilience and courage we study and honor.”
The tour partners include the Black Voice Foundation, Mapping Black California, Black Voice News, Howard University, The Jerry Gore Collection, and various school districts in California.
