The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama
From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration
Spring Break 2026 | March 15-21
New Orleans → Angola → Selma → Montgomery
This spring break, the UB Prison Studies Certificate program is launching its first funded, immersive trip to the American South. Over seven days, students will explore and learn about the deep connections between the history of slavery and present-day mass incarceration, returning to Buffalo equipped with knowledge and tools to make change on campus and beyond.
Program Highlights
Over seven days, you will:
- Walk the grounds of the Whitney Plantation and stand in the shadow of America’s history of slavery;
- Visit Angola Prison, the largest maximum-security prison in the U.S., built on a former slave plantation;
- Participate in a training in Selma on challenging systemic racism and building a more equitable society;
- Experience the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery;
- Meet civil rights activists, legal advocates; and formerly incarcerated leaders.
After the trip you will work in small groups to create a project that supports students impacted by the criminal legal system and present it as part of the Prison and Incarceration Research Speaker Series.
Cost to you: $200
All other expenses are covered by the program. Waivers are available if cost is a barrier.
Key Dates
- Application deadline: October 24, 2025 at 5 pm
- Pre-trip orientation: Monday, March 2, 2026
- Travel dates: March 15–21, 2026
- Trip begins: New Orleans, LA
- Trip ends: Montgomery, AL
- Student project presentations: May 4, 2026
What You Will Do
Among the many sites we will visit, we will go to:
- The Whitney Plantation, a former sugar plantation turned historic site dedicated to telling the history of slavery in the United States from the perspective of enslaved people.
- Angola, The Louisiana State Penitentiary, the largest maximum-security prison in the U.S., with over 6,300 incarcerated people. The prison sits ont he site of a former slave plantation, and is considered by many to be mass incarceration's "ground zero."
- The Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of the brutal Bloody Sunday beatings of civil rights marchers during the first march for voting rights.
- The Legacy Museum, which highlights the history and legacy of slavery in America, including its present-day manifestaiton in mass incarceration, through interactive media, first-person narratives, world-class art, and data-rich exhibits
- The National Memorial for Peace & Justice, the U.S.'s first memorial dedicated to over 4,400 victims of lynching
- The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, located along the river where tens of thousands of enslaved people were trafficked, this outdoor sculpture park holds breathtaking art and original artifacts that provide a unique view into the lives of enslaved people, including the National Monument to Freedom, honoring the four million formerly enslaved Black people who won freedom after the Civil War.
We will meet many organizations and activists, including:
- Operation Restoration, a nonprofit organization created by formerly incarcerated women that provides wrap-around services and programs for justice-impacted women and girls.
- The Louisiana Parole Project, an advocacy organization that provides direct representation to people who are incarcerated, and transitional housing, services, and programming upon their release.
- The Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation, a nonprofit organization committed to transforming and healing the root causes of racial violence at personal, family, community and systemic levels.
- The Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation.
- The Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. Founded by Bryan Stevenson, EJI challenges the death penalty and excessive punishment and provides re-entry assistance to formerly incarcerated people.
Why Participate?
This transformative learning experience will stay with you long after you return to campus. By participating, you will:
- Deepen your understanding of the connections between slavery, segregation, civil rights, and mass incarceration
- Experience history in place—standing where enslaved people labored, where civil rights activists marched, and where justice continues to be fought for today
- Engage with leaders and advocates, from formerly incarcerated organizers to national organizations like the Equal Justice Initiative and Southern Poverty Law Center
- Grow personally and academically by participating in reflection sessions, team-building activities, and guided discussions
- Apply what you learn by developing a project at UB that supports system-impacted students and contributes to positive change on campus
- Have the opportunity to earn an Experiential Learning Digital Badge, a recognition you can highlight on your resume, grad school applications, and professional portfolio
Above all, this trip is about connecting the past to the present, and returning with a stronger sense of responsibility and possibility for shaping a more just future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
This trip is open to current UB undergraduates in good standing from any major who are:
- Available to participate in the full trip, March 15–21, 2026;
- Genuinely interested in issues related to mass incarceration, racial justice, and/or the legacies of enslavement; and
- Willing to engage in emotionally challenging collaborative work.
Students in the Prison Studies Certificate will be given priority in the selection process, but all interested UB undergraduates will be considered.
Do I need to be in the Prison Studies Certificate program?
No, but students already enrolled or planning to apply will receive priority.
How are students selected?
We will review applications based on your interest, experiences, and goals for the trip. We are looking for students who are curious, open-minded, and committed to learning.
When will I hear back about my application?
Decisions will be announced about three weeks after the application deadline.
How do I apply?
The online application can be accessed here.
How much does the trip cost?
Students are asked to contribute $200 toward the cost of the trip. This small fee helps ensure personal investment in the experience.
What is included?
All other expenses are covered by the program, including round-trip airfare, ground transportation, hotel accommodations, group meals, and site admissions. The true cost of the trip is much higher, but thanks to program funding and faculty support, students pay only a small portion.
What if I cannot afford the $200?
We never want cost to be a barrier. If the $200 contribution would prevent you from participating, you may request a full or partial waiver as part of your application. No student will be turned away for financial reasons.
Will I need to bring extra money for anything else?
You may want to bring some personal spending money for snacks, souvenirs, or optional purchases, but all essentials within the trip are fully covered. If you decide to check luggage instead of using a carry-on bag, you will need to cover that expense. Likewise, if you opt out of a group meal, you will be responsible for covering the cost of your meal.
Where will we stay?
Students will stay in hotels in double-occupancy rooms (two students per room, each with their own bed).
How will we travel between locations?
We will travel together as a group in a chartered bus or vans.
Is there a pre-trip orientation?
Yes. We will host a mandatory dinner and orientation meeting before the trip to prepare emotionally and logistically.
What should I pack?
A packing list will be provided, but you should plan to bring comfortable clothes and walking shoes, a light jacket, and anything you would need for a week away from home. If you get motion sickness, bring medication for that. Temperatures in the South this time of year generally range from the 50s to the 70s. Occasional rain and cooler evenings are common, so plan to bring an umbrella, a hat, and sunscreen too.
This sounds intense. Will there be emotional support?
Yes. We will have regular debriefing sessions each evening, and faculty mentors will be available for support. Some of the sites can be heavy and emotional, but you will never process them alone.
Do I need to do any prep work before we go?
We will watch a film and share some short readings in advance to help you get ready so you can get the most out of the trip.
What happens when we get back?
You will work in small groups, supervised by faculty mentors, to create a project that supports justice-impacted students at UB.
Do I earn academic credit?
This trip is not tied to a course, but you will have the opportunity to earn an Experiential Learning Digital Badge and present through the Prison and Incarceration Research Speaker Series.
How can I use this experience in the future?
You can highlight this trip on your resume or graduate school applications as a unique, transformative learning experience. It also connects directly to careers in law, social work, education, advocacy, and public policy.
