Mahoning Valley Sojourn To The Past

Learning the Lessons of the Civil Rights Movement

Mahoning Valley Sojourn To The Past

Welcome!

We are Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past based in Youngstown, Ohio, founded in 2007. Our organization takes high school students on a leadership development, life changing, history immersion journey to the Civil Rights sites in the South. Our student leaders meet the “foot soldiers” of the Movement and learn the lessons of social and racial justice, nonviolence, civic responsibility, hope, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, and not being a silent witness. The goal is to incorporate these lessons into their daily lives to become ambassadors of nonviolence and leaders for social and racial justice in their homes, schools, and community.

“Not one of us can rest, be happy, be at home, be at peace with ourselves, until we end hatred and division.”

— John Lewis
US House of Representatives

Filmmaker Keith A. Beauchamp visits Youngstown

In February 2024, at the invitation of Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past, filmmaker and producer Keith A. Beauchamp came to Youngstown to share the story of Emmett Till as told through his mother’s perspective in the film “Till.” Beauchamp co-produced and co-wrote the film. He spoke to Chaney High School students and faculty about the film as well as shared a behind the scenes look at the making of the film. Students from the Montessori school were also invited. The students were invited to ask questions in response to the viewing of the film “Till".” That evening, Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past also hosted a showing of the film “Till” at Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business Administration. For more, please read the news article below, written by Mr. Sean Barron:

The Vindicator News Article