BK2BAMA Year 8

Now in its eighth year, BK2BAMA is thrilled to be taking fourteen eighth graders to Alabama and Georgia this April. We remain forever indebted to our generous supporters who make this unique experience possible. We are currently in the process of applying for nonprofit status and are optimistic by next year our donors will be able to use their contributions as a tax write off.

Mission Statement

BK2BAMA strives to develop proud, confident, proactive young leaders, who recognize and embrace the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. To that end, BK2BAMA intimately exposes students to the rich history of the modern Civil Rights Movement and engages them in the ongoing efforts being made to build a more equitable, just, tolerant America and world.

Program Description

Students spend a week in Alabama and Georgia, visiting historic sites relating to Black history and the Civil Rights Movement, while also learning about the current challenges facing America and people of color in particular. Students meet with leaders and foot soldiers of the Movement, both past and present. In the months preceding the trip, students attend twice weekly meetings and field trips to prepare.

Student Population

All students attend Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate Charter School (BSC), a Title I charter school run entirely on public funds. BSC operates on a per pupil budget equal to that of any other New York City public school. During the 2022-2023 school year, 69% of BSC eighth graders qualified for free lunch and an additional 6% receive reduced priced lunch. The eighth-grade student population identified as 66% Black or African American with 31% Hispanic, 4% American Indian or Alaska Native, 2% Asian, and 1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. BK2BAMA is proud to include students receiving special teacher support services.

Program Financing

BK2BAMA is funded entirely by student and faculty fundraising and relies on the generosity of its donors. Families are not required to contribute anything. While in Alabama and Georgia BK2BAMA patronizes almost exclusively Black-owned and operated businesses.

For more information, visit our website, bk2bama.org, and follow us on Instagram at @bk2bama.