The Alabama Bicentennial Commission will host its 2018 Bicentennial Summer Institutes June 11 until July 19 throughout different cities in the state. This is the second year of the workshop, and it has already reached its goal with 360 people registered. Selma will host the workshop June 25-28 at the Selma Interpretive Center and will focus on civil rights and its significant history in the Blackbelt. A total of 30 teachers and administrators from all over the state will meet at the Selma Interpretive Center for training. The educators will then explore and research the rich history of Selma, Marion and Old Cahawba.

Susan Dubose, education coordinator for the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, said this is an opportunity for educators to learn the state’s rich history, so they can teach their students of its importance.

“We have 12 master teachers that came in for training two years ago from all over the state, she said. “Our mission is to try to give teachers the tools and the resources they need to really engage students in state history.”

Valerie Pope Burnes, co-author of “Visions of the Black Belt”, will give a talk on the Black Belt.

The educators will then take field trips to Marion, the National Voting Rights Museum, and Old Cahawba, Alabama’s first capital.

The group will also hear from speakers on oral history, Jim Crow, and cultural identity. Local foot soldiers will provide insight on how Civil Rights has shaped their lives as well as Alabama.

“We typically have the early participants in the Selma to Montgomery March to tell us what that felt like as young people to take a stand,” Dubose said.

Master teacher Sylvia Cook, content specialist Dr. Valerie Pope Burnes and partner teacher Annette Scott will facilitate the workshop.

“We’re hoping it will be an experience for [the educators] to really think about where we are and where we want to go and where we want to be.” Dubose said.