Multigenerational Civil Rights Trip Symposium

Tuesday, May 26th at 5pm
with a light dinner available at 4:45pm

Dear Families,

This year's Civil Rights Trip was the twenty-fifth one, and we are celebrating this anniversary with a special event that also draws in some of the people and institutions that Gordon's trip has inspired.

During the past two years, Gordon's trip served as the model for three more journeys to Georgia and Alabama. Gabe Burnstein, former Gordon eighth grade humanities teacher, became Head of School at the Charles River School in Dover, Massachusetts in 2023 and began taking Charles River's eighth grade on the trip a year later. Meanwhile, Gordon graduate Alejandro Quintero Cashore '22 advocated for a similar trip for his classmates at Bishop Hendricken, and their first trip took place this spring. 

A third trip was organized by alumni parents (and Rhode Island District Court Justices) Judge Jack McConnell and Judge Melissa DuBose, with a large group of lawyers and judges who shared their passion for civil rights history.

We've invited Judge McConnell, Judge Dubose and others from their group to come to Gordon and compare notes with Gordon's Class of 2026, and groups from Charles River and Bishop Hendricken are coming as well. The goal is to explore the learning that could happen if we gathered a diverse group of people who all shared this special experience.

The symposium will be Tuesday, May 26th at 5pm, with a light dinner available at 4:45pm, and we expect it will run until 6:30pm. Please RSVP for your child using the form below. Given that our students will be representing the school and inviting in visitors from outside, we hope that they will dress in a slightly more elevated way than they normally do for school!

The format of the evening will lean heavily on small group conversation, led by the young people in the group. We would love to have your child join us to help fuel the conversation.

The night is aimed at gathering a diverse group of voices all connected by a shared experience. We know that parents would love to observe the conversation, but this invitation is just for students.

A few practical notes: 

We’d love to have your children there, but attendance is not required. Students who are able to participate may bring their journals, but no additional preparation is needed.

Students should be dropped off at the theater entrance anytime between 4:45-4:55. The program will begin promptly at 5:00pm and students should be picked up in the front circle at 6:30.

Students coming from athletic gatherings can simply stay at school. We will coordinate directly with students regarding where to change and where to report to as the date gets closer. 

All students should RSVP using the form below: