This was an excellent mix of conversations, experiences, and thoughtful leadership. Excellent in every way!

With great attention to detail, variety of experiences, and thoughtful engagements, this trip was exactly what I was hoping to experience.

To travel and build relationships with other pastors from Nashville as we learned together about peacemaking was a tremendous gift. The times for shared reflection were invaluable and nourishing. While much of what we heard was heavy, we were able to process our feelings and reactions together. We were able to lament and to celebrate, to cry and to laugh, to mourn and to dance (literally a jig). The whole experience was transformative!

Overall Experience The experience was amazing and deeply formative. To be immersed in these sacred places—where my ancestors fought for freedom and humanity—was surreal. The trip was exceptionally well planned and thoughtfully organized across communication, logistics, and content. Each day was power-packed, filled with so much depth that six days felt like six weeks. I’m still processing and working to reflect on everything we experienced. I sincerely appreciated all the speakers—from the Congo Square Community Center, to the Mayor and the college student, to Ms. Barbera, Ms. Afreya, the professor who spoke about imagination, the nonviolence leader, the brothers who were falsely accused and imprisoned, and Pastor Crudup. Every voice was powerful. Standouts for me included the Mayor, Ms. Barbera, Ms. Afreya, and the professor. Also, how can I forget the Mississippi Mass choir whom hugged us with their song and arms. I felt the love of God truly at New Horizon Church. Just a beautiful experience that can't be measured. Every place we visited was impactful and unforgettable. The experience of sharing meals, prayer, song, conversation, and affirmation—as acts of resistance to injustice—deeply moved me. You offered a multi-layered response to injustice through art, music, wisdom, dance, knowledge, and community. Playing African drums and learning the history behind the rhythms was powerful. I couldn't stop smiling. I felt at home. The museums and the art exhibits! Wow! It was an abundance of transformative experiences. I truly feel like I found my song again—reconnecting with the music and spiritual traditions I was raised on. Also, let me say, I loved the group! The harmony and chemistry of the group, I am so grateful. So your selection and the format of a reflection partner were just amazing! Personal Impact Living in New York, I’ve often felt a disconnect from the South. Although my family is from the South, my experiences there have mostly been limited to reunions and funerals. This trip helped me reconnect with my Southern roots in ways I didn’t even realize I needed. I’m deeply grateful for that. This experience also sparked a deeper curiosity in me. You did a phenomenal job showing how cities, states, and the nation attempt to bury history—yet the evidence and the people who carry it remain alive and active. In broader media, we often hear that the era of Civil Rights leaders has passed, but this trip made it clear: these leaders are still here. The question is, how are we protecting them and amplifying their stories? For example, after returning home, I felt compelled to investigate a cemetery in my neighborhood that I’ve walked through countless times. I discovered that it contains many unmarked African American graves, as well as the resting place of George Washington Johnson, the first Black recording artist in history. As an activist and advocate, this experience pushed me to dig deeper into local history—and I truly appreciate that. I’m forever grateful. This trip has left a lasting imprint on me. I’ve been sharing what I learned with others, and I continue to reflect on all that I experienced. Opportunities for Growth I appreciated the consistent encouragement to care for ourselves throughout the journey—your reminders to “do what you need” were meaningful and necessary. While space was made for lament and reflection, I believe there is an opportunity to go deeper, especially given the emotional weight of the history we engaged in—particularly for African American participants who are direct descendants of this legacy. 1. Creating Space for Righteous Anger While anger was verbally acknowledged as valid, it did not always feel fully expressed or embodied within the space. I believe there is room for more intentional framing around righteous anger—especially from a theological perspective. Scripture offers many examples of anger as a response to injustice, and leaning into that framework could help participants process more fully and authentically. 2. Clearer Pathways to Action I would have appreciated more concrete action steps connected to the injustices we witnessed—particularly during experiences like the Toxic Tour. At times, I left feeling unsure of what I could do to help beyond “telling the story.” Since the pilgrimage is positioned as more than a tour, it would be impactful to offer 2–3 tangible ways participants can take action. For example: Specific organizations to support Advocacy or policy initiatives to engage in Direct ways to support affected families or communities I’m not suggesting participation should be required, but providing clear options would help channel the emotional impact into meaningful action. 3. Applying Nonviolence to Present-Day Issues I valued the nonviolence workshop, and I would love to see more explicit connections to current-day applications. How can these principles be applied to the challenges we are facing today? 4. Bridging Emotion to Action Hearing Ms. Barbera speak about ongoing struggles and the difficulty of mobilizing people was powerful—but it also left me asking, “What can I do?” I believe integrating a clearer activist or action-oriented component into the program would help bridge that gap. Righteous anger, when embraced, can be a powerful catalyst for action. 5. Engaging the Topic of Reparations Finally, given the depth of engagement with the African American experience—especially interactions with descendants connected to places like Whitney Plantation—I believe discussions of reparations should be included in some form. Addressing this topic would strengthen the overall exploration of justice and response. I'd be glad to help or explain further if any part of this is unclear. Closing Overall, this was an incredibly meaningful and transformative experience. You did an excellent job, and I’m deeply grateful. This journey has left a lasting mark on me, and I will carry it forward. Well done. Thank you!

I came on this pilgrimage with great anticipation about what it would be like. The pilgrimage was far beyond what I could have imagined. I experienced healing, a greater understanding of the American context, friendship, expansion of my Afro-Caribbean family's story regarding slavery in the Americas, an answer to prayers emerging from my anger and frustrations, and a deeper, profound call to a life of justice, hope, and radical imagination. Given the nature of the pilgrimage - engaging the trauma and atrocities accompanying slavery in America with its attending interlocking systems of oppression, to experience what I stated above seems unlikely. Much of this was due to the curation of the experience- the framing throughout our time, place we went, people we spoke to, food we ate, etc., by DeSean, Frances, and the rest of the Telos/Calvin team. There was also a sensitivity to what was happening and DeSean's masterful ability to read the room that undergirded this pilgrimage. As a result, this group of strangers, who were open to the learning the pilgrimage could provide, found ourselves laughing, ribbing, caring for, and bonding as a community. I haven't fully processed my experience - it will continue for the foreseeable future. What I have done, however, is begin sharing some parts of this experience with my family. I want to begin planning smaller pilgrimages for my immediate family, beginning in our local context. The ultimate goal is to continue these pilgrimages to places of trauma and resilience within the Black Atlantic experience (US, Caribbean, UK, Africa), with the aim of cultivating persons whose lives are shaped by justice and advocacy. Thanks, Telos/Calvin, for this life-changing experience.