For Immediate Release: 9/9/24
CONTACT:
Tri Nguyen: 415-608-6237
tnguyen@glide.org
Ending stigma against formerly incarcerated people and creating racial justice allies, one trip at a time
GLIDE is re-inventing the concept of “pilgrimage” by leading transformational trips through Alabama’s civil rights history
WHAT: Annually, GLIDE’s Center for Social Justice leads a trip showcasing Alabama’s civil rights history & modern-day activism at memorials, museums, and meetups. The public is invited to a short documentary film screening and panel to experience scenes from this Alabama Justice Pilgrimage, and hear from panelists who went on the trip.
WHY: On the trip, many members of GLIDE’s community (staff, partners, and former clients) learned about the connections between slavery and mass incarceration. The stigma of mass incarceration loses its power when you realize imprisonment is a result of historical forces, not just personal misdeeds. At GLIDE, where so many staff and clients are formerly incarcerated people, battling this stigma is a vital priority. The film spotlights in particular the experiences of two Black men who were clients in GLIDE’s programs, and were inspired to learn of their ancestors’ strength and resilience as they visited Alabama’s memorials and museums.
WHEN: Wednesday, September 11th from 6pm – 7:30pm
WHERE: GLIDE Foundation, 330 Ellis Street, San Francisco
BACKGROUND: Throughout history, pilgrims have undertaken long and arduous journeys in the hope of being transformed from the inside out. GLIDE is pioneering a new kind of pilgrimage, one with the aim of racial justice and reconciliation. Together, members of the GLIDE community visit the many memorials and museums that tell the stories of enslavement and its connection to modern-day mass incarceration. This trip makes people more ardent in the struggle against racism. Participants gather multiple times in San Francisco before and after the journey.
America has never had a country-wide process of Truth and Reconciliation like they did in South Africa after Apartheid. Arranging immersive learning experiences like the pilgrimage is one of the many ways GLIDE’s Center for Social Justice advances truth and reconciliation. The film features Jamien (JJ) Johnson and DeShawn Brown, two participants from GLIDE’s Men in Progress Program who attended the pilgrimage for the first time. They were inspired to discover the true depths of their Black ancestors’ strength and struggle.
Photos and videos from the event will be available upon request.
Additional Resources:
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About GLIDE:
GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice dedicated to fighting systemic injustice, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives. GLIDE’s integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusive community empower individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and thrive. GLIDE is on the forefront of addressing some of the most pressing issues including poverty, housing shortages and homelessness, and racial and social injustice.