Road Scholar is expanding its educational travel offerings with two new Civil Rights-themed programs that will take participants through New Orleans, Jackson, Memphis and Nashville, giving travelers a deeper understanding of the people, places and events that shaped the struggle for racial equality in America.
The nonprofit organization, which specializes in educational travel for adults age 50 and older, announced the new itineraries following the continued success of its original Civil Rights Movement program in Alabama and Georgia. Since launching in 2017, that experience has become one of Road Scholar’s most popular offerings, attracting nearly 550 participants last year alone and earning praise from travelers who describe it as “life-changing.”
The two new programs—Rhythm of Resistance: Civil Rights & Jazz in New Orleans and The Civil Rights Movement in Jackson, Memphis & Nashville—are designed to build on that success while exploring additional chapters of the movement’s history.
In New Orleans, participants will examine how the city’s civil rights legacy intersects with the birth and evolution of jazz, offering a broader perspective on the cultural forces that shaped the city.
“A civil rights and jazz program in New Orleans offers a powerful new way to experience the city by connecting two of its most influential legacies,” said Lindsey Temple, Program Operations Director at Road Scholar. “From the fight for equality to the birth of America’s most iconic musical tradition, these stories bring New Orleans to life in a meaningful and immersive way.”
The Mississippi and Tennessee program will take travelers through Jackson, Memphis and Nashville, highlighting communities where pivotal moments in the Civil Rights Movement unfolded and introducing participants to local experts and historical sites.
Bobbie Duncan of the Center for Educational Adventure, which partners with Road Scholar to operate the program, said the goal is to help participants better understand both the movement’s history and its continuing relevance.
“This program was created to connect people with the living history of the Civil Rights Movement across Jackson, Memphis and Nashville—places where ordinary individuals made extraordinary choices that helped shape our nation,” Duncan said.
The inaugural departures for both new programs are scheduled for May 2027, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of Road Scholar’s original Civil Rights tour through Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma and Birmingham.
Founded in 1975 as Elderhostel, Road Scholar has served more than 6.5 million lifelong learners through educational travel experiences in nearly 100 countries. The organization hopes the new programs will encourage participants to engage more deeply with the history of the Civil Rights Movement while reflecting on its lasting impact on American society.