If there’s ever a group of people who deserve to be called unsung heroes, it has to be teachers. These individuals nurture and care for our kids every day, all while helping them learn the skills to be productive in school and life. May 2-6 is Teacher Appreciation Week, so you may wonder how to say thank you to your kiddo’s teacher. Here are 15 compliments for teachers your family can give out every day.
1. Thank you. Sometimes those two simple words are good enough.
2. You care about your students.Judi Holst, a Language Arts teacher at Rocky Heights Middle School in Colorado, said the best compliment she received from a student was that she genuinely cares for her students’ lives and all the things that involve being in middle school.
3. My kid wants to learn more about XYZ. Nothing excites a teacher more than hearing that a student wants to learn. Have your kiddo verbalize that desire for knowledge. It will make the teacher’s day.
4. My kiddo came home and tried to teach me what they learned in your class. George Bartuska, an Engineering/Aerospace teacher at Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Kathleen High School in Florida, said the best compliment he received was from a parent who shared with him not only how much their kid enjoyed his classes, but also how they’ve come home and explained some of the activities or classroom discussions.
5. My kiddo is always excited to come to class. If a teacher knows students are excited to be in school, they realize they’re doing a good job.
6. You are what our family needs. Lynn Thedell, a preschool teacher in San Diego, was told by a parent that her class was exactly what their family needed when they were having a difficult time with their kiddo.
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7. We appreciate you. You can always say “thank you.” But telling a teacher you appreciate them expresses a different level of gratitude.
8. You helped my kiddo understand this differently. Teaching is not only helping kids understand new concepts, but it’s also helping them reexamine how they think. That recognition is sometimes even more powerful, which is why this is one of our favorite compliments for teachers.
9. Thank you for connecting with my kiddo. According to the National Education Association, the best teachers care about the relational aspect of teaching, along with imparting knowledge. Let them know you recognize the effort they’re making.
10. Thank you for respecting my child as a person. This may seem like a simple idea, but you may be surprised how many kids don’t feel like their teacher has respect for the people they are.
11. You’re a great sub. Shannon Giles, a substitute teacher in Indiana, said receiving that compliment meant the world to her. If you have a favorite substitute, don’t forget to tell them you appreciate them and think they’re awesome too.
12. You make learning fun. Not everyone likes school. If your kiddo is having fun during the day, your teacher is doing something right.
14. You helped my child when I couldn’t. It could be that they got them through a tricky unit. It could be that they were able to help your child see the future. It could be they helped deal with a school bully. As parents, we can’t be there for everything, and it’s important to let other adults know when they’ve helped you out.
15. My kid still talks about your class. Even though teachers may see hundreds of kids throughout their careers, you better believe there’s a place in their hearts for all of them. To know they have a place in your kid’s core memory is a wonderful compliment for teachers.
The school year will be starting soon! While you’re busy thinking about school lunch ideas for kids, don’t forget that there’s nothing that puts a smile on a kid’s face like a surprise note or joke tucked into their lunch box. We gathered up a few of our favorites and made printable lunchbox jokes. Click here or on the image below to print them up—we hope they brighten your student’s day!
Don’t stop with printable lunchbox jokes for kids. Check out our collection of jokes for kids below.
Netflix’s creative take on the Addams Family has been a runaway success. Wednesday, a coming-of-age tale directed by Tim Burton following the angsty teen, is one of the most-watched series ever to stream on Netflix. In January 2023, the streamer announced the show was getting a second season and has just released a new video in which members of the cast discuss (and confirm) top fan theories.
The video features Jenna Ortega, Emma Meyers (Enid), Joy Sunday (Bianca), and Hunter Doohan (Tyler) discussing potential plotline theories for season 2, like Crackstone’s ring and whether or not someone will inherit its power, what Eugene might have in store, and whether or not Professor Weems met her end in Episode 8. While the actors admit that most of season two is so top secret that even they don’t know for sure what’s coming, they did confirm one theory about the new season that revolves around the Addams family itself.
“We can’t wait to dive headfirst into another season and explore the kooky, spooky world of Nevermore,” said Wednesday Season 1 co-showrunners Miles Millar and Alfred Gough. “We just need to make sure Wednesday hasn’t emptied the pool first.”
Will Christina Ricci reprise her role in Season 2?
In March 2023, when asked whether her character, Marilyn Thornhill, would be returning for a second season, Ricci told Entertainment Tonight, “I don’t think I’m allowed to say… on my end, the door is open. She was so fun to play! It’s always so fun to play a villain.”
Netflix’s Wednesday Season 2 Release Date
While there’s no news on a release date, fans can still learn about the plot theories and maybe rewatch season one to get more ideas before the second season arrives.
In season one, as Wednesday attempted to master her budding psychic powers, the iconic character also aims to “thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago—all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships of the strange and diverse student body,” per Netflix.
For those moments when your sitter cancels or you’ve got a last-minute meeting try flexible, drop-in childcare near Portland
Life is busier than ever with more parents working from home. While it’s nice to have the kids in the house, sometimes you need a little peace and quiet so you can get work done, whatever that may be. Luckily there are plenty of places offering drop-in childcare near Portland that’s both flexible and affordable. Childcare that works around your schedule and is available when you’re in a pinch? We couldn’t think of a more useful tool for busy Portland parents.
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This popular flexible childcare spot takes in kids in the morning, for an afternoon or an evening. It accepts kids ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. Parents with infants will love the beautifully and specially designed rooms that provide safe and stimulating programs for your little one. The play-based preschool curriculum is a win with local families looking to get their kiddos ready for Kindergarten. There's an über convenient online reservation form on their website, making their service even more simple to use.
If you need flexible, part-time childcare on the east side or in North Portland, this favorite childcare spot has three centers to choose from. The staff is heavy on teaching language skills, including baby sign language and Spanish language programming for bigger kids. They also offer interest centers for children including math, science, imaginative play, and reading.
Students, staff and faculty at PSU can leave little ones at this weekday drop-in center that's right on campus. They offer walk-in, reserved or occasional care for up to 5 hours a day, 20 hours per week. Ask about their activity kits for parents to check out to keep their little ones busy during meetings or study sessions.
Located in Lake Oswego, this awesome flexible daycare option offers a variety of licensed, academic early childhood programs for children ages 1 to 12 years-old. The options are flexible and quality educational experiences while being taught by trained professionals in an enriching environment. Parents can choose from school readiness programs, no-school day camps, and drop and go care.
Serving the west side, near Washington Square Mall, this drop-in center offers late night options for parents and construction toys, dress up duds and sometimes field trips for munchkins. Parents like the individual care given to each child, and the array of activities available for all ages and the flexible hours. Reservations are not required, but they are strongly recommended.
Pittsburgh Unified School District teacher Dorothy Honey Mallari’s second grade-style version of Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” is an educational anthem every student needs to hear.
According to KPIX 5, the Los Medanos Elementary second grade teacher regularly rewrites pop music for her class.
Even though original lyrics to the song aren’t all-together child-friendly, Mallari told KPIX News, “And when the song came on — the Kid’s Bop version — they were really digging it.” The teacher continued, “And so I said, ‘OK, this is the song we’re going to do it to.’”
The revamped version of the song now includes lyrics such as, “Let’s be great, cuz’ I know we are great” and, “Help you with your homework, just a little.”
So what do Mallari’s second graders think of the song? Based on the video clip, they all enjoy it! Eight-year-old student Hayden Wiebe told KPIX News, “It makes us feel happy in the morning and it makes us feel like a family.” Another student, Jaxson Sanchez, said of his inspirational teacher, “She makes a difference of school, because other teachers just do normal things.”
It’s not just Mallari’s students who see the brilliance in her “Truth Hurts” re-do. Along with most of the Internet, Lizzo chimed in, tweeting, “Ur right..this IS the best thing I’ve watched today.”
Gone are the days when a PB&J is standard lunch fare. There are a gazillion bento boxes for kids on the market and they are just calling out for some fun school lunches. Scroll through to find some holiday-themed bento box lunches, special tools that kids will love, googly eyes that make your sandwich rolls come to life and tons of other ideas. Pop in a printable lunchbox joke and your student will be the talk of the lunchroom!
From learning a different language to solving mysteries, there’s something for every interest
Is your kid at the beginning of a summer slump? You know, where they (might) be over the lazy days but not ready to gear up for the classroom just yet? If so, it could be the right time to give them a little something extra to fire up their brains and bodies. Outschool offers dozens of different classes for ages ranging from toddlers to teens. From learning a different language to solving mysteries, there’s something for every interest. To help you decide which ones you want to check out, we’ve curated a list of our favorite classes from Outschool for kids.
Superhero Fitness Plus
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A one-time class that lasts 35 minutes, Coach Eurico will lead students through a series of interactive workouts inspired by superheroes! Best for ages 3-7
Smartest Artists: Art Class With A Touch of History, Math, Lit and Science
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This semester-long Outschool class has students creating a new piece of artwork every week, and as a bonus, they'll learn about history, math, science and literature along the way. This is a flexible class, which means there are no live video sessions. Best for ages 4-9.
Elementary Explorers: Rocks, Fossils, and Crystals
Outschool
This multi-day course is perfect for budding geologists. Kids will learn about rock cycles, how to identify different rocks and testing common materials. Best for ages 5-8.
This eight-week course is conducted like a real dance class, students will get an introduction to Hip Hop as well as learn choreography to their favorite Disney movies! Best for ages 6-10.
This class meets for 35 minutes and kids will get instruction on how to break codes! The class is recorded, so students can come back for referencing because learning these skills take time. Best for ages 7-11.
Kids will get an intensive lesson on how to speak Spanish! This course runs for eight weeks and meets once a week, for 50 minutes. There are only 3-7 kids per class. Best for ages 8-12.
This Outschool class meets once a week for weeks and teaches skills like basic first aid, how to build a fire, foraging for food and more. Best for ages 9-12.
Students will learn how to work with aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to create beautiful images. This is a 10-week, once-a-week course. Best for ages 9-12.
Combine your kids’ love of Minecraft with a lesson on the history of Architecture that ranges from ancient times until now. This Outschool class runs for six weeks, and there are no scheduled video chats, instead, participants have discussions via a classroom forum and private teacher chats. Best for ages 9-14.
While this seems like just a game, participants that sign up for this one-time session will be using logic, learning about fact vs. opinion and using their problem solving skills. Best for ages 11-16.
Women’s History Month means it’s time to take a closer look at the women who helped shape Atlanta. From voting activists to savvy businesswomen and generous philanthropists, Atlanta’s women have forged a path for others to follow. Keep reading to learn about 10 women who changed Atlanta forever.
Stacey Abrams is a political leader, voting rights activist and author who is best known for losing the gubernatorial race for Georgia only to launch Fair Fight and Fair Count, two organizations dedicated to funding and training voter protection teams in 20 battleground states. Her organizations are credited with having a hefty role in the reversal from Red to Blue of Georgia voters.
Get a Sense for It Make plans to visit the Atlanta History Center’s exhibit, “Any Great Change: The Centennial of the 19th Amendment.” Marking the 100th year anniversary of the right for women to vote (which was ratified Aug. 18, 1920), the exhibit celebrates the suffrage movement with a collection of photos, documents, memorabilia and interactive voting stations. Furthermore, the exhibit, which is displayed in the Swan House, also highlights Georgia’s hometown connections to the movement; the original Swan House owners, Emily C. MacDougald and her daughter, Emily Inman, were active suffragettes in the local efforts.
Sara Blakely is founder and owner of shapewear brand Spanx, which sells undergarments, leggings, swimwear and maternity wear in over 50 countries. And we're willing to bet we didn't have to tell anyone that. Blakely went from selling fax machines door-to-door to inventing, branding, and marketing a product that's ballooned to worldwide recognition—and turned her into a self-made billionaire.
Check It Out Head to the Savannah College of Art and Design's fashion museum (SCAD FASH) to marvel at the role of garments as important conduits of identity. And, because of Blakely, we all have a leg up on getting ourselves into any identity we care to claim.
1600 Peachtree St. NW Atlanta, GA 30309 404-253-3132 Online:scadfash.org
Anne Cox Chambers was a businesswoman, philanthropist, and power broker in Atlanta during the 1960s until her recent death, at 100 years old in 2020. She co-owned the family business, Cox Enterprises, with her sister for 33 years. She engineered the partnership between The High and The Louvre, and a wing of the museum is named for her. She served as the Ambassador to Belgium, and she served on the board of nearly every philanthropic organization in Atlanta, not to mention The Coca-Cola Company.
Walk in Her Shoes Check out just a tiny bit of Chambers' legacy by heading to The High Museum of Art, where you can get messy with your Toddler on Toddler Thursdays, or enjoy a Second Sunday family day.
1280 Peachtree St. NE Midtown 404-733-4400 Online: high.org
Shirley Franklin served as the 58th mayor of Atlanta, and was the first woman to hold the post. She was the first black woman to be elected mayor of a major Southern city, and the was Atlanta's 4th black mayor. Franklin announced an initiative called "Clean Water Atlanta" to address the problem and begin improving the city's sewer system, and was lauded for efforts to make the City of Atlanta "green." Under Franklin's leadership Atlanta went from having one of the lowest percentages of LEED certified buildings to one of the highest. She currently serves as a member on the board of directors for both Delta Air Lines and Mueller Water Products.
Understand Her Legacy Explore the Chattahoochee, and marvel at why Atlanta's known as "The City in the Trees." Most Atlantans live within striking distance to one of the Chattahoochee’s neighboring city parks or National Recreation Areas. And while the rest of Atlanta continues to sizzle well into autumn, the Chattahoochee stays a frigid temperature year-round.
Notable as the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King has created an enormous legacy of her own. She was a leader for the civil rights movement, taking on the leadership of the struggle for racial equality herself after her husband's assassination. She was an activist in the Women's Movement, LGBT progress, and was an outspoken opponent of apartheid. She also founded the King Center and succeeded in making her late husband's birthday a national holiday.
Explore Her Legacy From the King Center to Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta is full of places to learn about Black history. Find out how many of Atlanta's most well-known centers for Black culture and history were impacted by King as you explore Atlanta through a new lens. Start at the MLK National Historic Park.
450 Auburn Ave., NE Atlanta, Ga 404-331-5190 Online: nps.gov
Born in Atlanta in 1936, Siddons returned home after earning her bachelor’s degree at Auburn University. Rejecting her parents’ expectation that she would teach school, Siddons instead wrote about the political and social changes she witnessed in the “City Too Busy to Hate,” including one of her most famed pieces for Atlanta magazine: “Maid in Atlanta.” She went on to write over a dozen bestselling books, and her work challenged the stereotypes of the ‘Old South’ and gave readers strong, female characters who weren’t afraid to challenge social norms.
Get to Know Her If you're going to start anywhere, start with her "Maid in Atlanta" article for Atlanta magazine. Then, graduate to her first bestselling book, "Heartbreak Hotel." After that, you can pretty much throw a dart at her publication list and land on a good one. Pack a picnic and a blanket and spend an afternoon getting to know her through her writing at one of these perfect picnic spots around town.
Alana Shepherd and her family co-founded Shepherd Center in Atlanta in 1975 to treat spinal cord injury after her son, James, sustained a paralyzing spinal injury in 1973. Frustrated by the lack of state-of-the-art rehabilitation care in the southeastern United States, the family galvanized support among the Atlanta community to open a specialty facility. Alana also recognized early on that she had to help change the community to which patients would return so these individuals would be accepted and could, once again, assume their place in society. Through the years, Shepherd Center has grown from a six-bed unit to a world-renowned, 152-bed rehabilitation hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury, brain injury and other neurological conditions.
Walk in Her Shoes Shepherd's advocacy for accessibility resulted in the addition of lifts to Atlanta’s MARTA bus system and in making Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport one of the country’s most accessible airports. The next time you're on MARTA or chasing your toddler through Atlanta's airport, remember her!
In 1968 Dorothy Bolden transformed domestic workers’ rights by founding the National Domestic Worker’s Union of America (NDWUA). Her efforts to organize domestic workers so that they might gain better wages, better conditions, and respect for their profession came from 40 years of domestic work herself. Bolden also understood the power of the ballot and made registration and voting a requirement for the members of the NDWUA. She organized a boycott of Atlanta schools to protest the school board’s reluctance to improve the quality of education for Black students, and worked with Dr. Martin Luther King and other civil rights leader to confront police brutality, especially in her Atlanta neighborhood, Vine City.
Follow in Her Footsteps Even as a child, Bolden told of waking at 4 a.m. to get on a bus at 6 a.m., to arrive at work by 8 a.m. and manage the household of a family that relied on her entirely for all aspects of household management—only to return home at 6 p.m. to do it all again, for her family. In her honor, imagine doing all the things that need to be done in a day to keep your family on track... only twice.
Ella Josephine Baker was a civil rights and human rights activist, who often worked behind-the-scenes alongside some of the most noted civil rights leaders of the 20th century, including W. E. B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, A. Philip Randolph, and Martin Luther King Jr. She had a huge impact on the leadership of the movement by mentoring many emerging activists, such as Diane Nash, Stokely Carmichael, Rosa Parks, and Bob Moses—whom she first mentored as leaders in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Baker has been called "one of the most important American leaders of the twentieth century and perhaps the most influential woman in the civil rights movement."
Take a Closer Look Find the Student Movement Marker at the former site of Yates & Milton Drug Store, which is now the Student Center on the campus of Clark Atlanta University. You can find a Georgia Historical Society marker that tells the story of the Atlanta Student Movement, which began when three Morehouse College students—Lonnie King, Joseph Pierce and Julian Bond—formed the Committee on the Appeal for Human Rights and involved all the historically black institutions of the Atlanta University.
Corner of James P. Brawley Dr. SW & Atlanta Student Movement Blvd. Atlanta GA 30314
About a year ago, I finally brought several boxes of stuff home from the closet at my parents’ house where I’d stuffed them (the boxes, not my parents) sometime during my college years in the mid-’90s when I was ready to pack up my childhood but not quite prepared to chuck it all. I’ve been going through everything slowly—rediscovering some old ’80s treasures (hello, rainbow Trapper Keeper, pizza and dill pickle Scratch ‘n’ Sniff stickers and Swatches!) but also realizing that I held on to lots of stuff for wayyyy too long (multiple school passes calling me down to the counselor’s office? Why?).
After sorting through all of it, I found myself left with several shoeboxes full of notes from my middle and high school friends. Elaborately folded and often multi-colored, they bear witness to the pre-digital days when we had to use pens and paper to write down the things we wanted to say to each other. And we had SO MUCH to say. Reading through these artifacts of my youth, I was reminded of classmates I hadn’t thought of in decades, crushes I thought I’d never get over, teachers who just weren’t fair, and endless inside jokes. I smiled, cringed, and then did a fair bit of cyberstalking. (LinkedIn proved unexpectedly fruitful.)
All of this feels especially relevant right now because my 11-year-old daughter is days away from starting middle school. She just got her first phone; instead of handfuls of folded paper, she and her friends exchange texts, YouTube videos, and memes, but it serves the same purpose. And what I keep thinking about, as these girls I’ve known since they were tiny kindergartners take this giant leap together, is that I hope it’s easier for them than it was for me. All my dusty memories of slights real and imagined, hopes raised and dashed, and gossip shared and received have inspired me to share a few bits of advice for my rising 6th grader (whether she’ll listen is a whole other matter):
1. Be Kind: You don’t have to be friends with everyone, but if you treat everyone with kindness, you’ll have better memories and fewer regrets.
I said some nasty things about other people in some of the notes I found buried in my boxes, and it made me sad to think that I wasted time (and ink) on petty resentments.
2. Be Inclusive: Make sure everyone feels welcome—to your conversations, your lunch table, your activities. I felt left out so often as a teenager. A lot of that was my insecurity, but some of it was my friends just not thinking about how their actions and decisions affected others. Totally on point for teens, but still hard. And in today’s world of social media and FOMO, it’s worse than ever.
3. Give Yourself a Break: Nobody expects you to be perfect except you, and you’re going to make mistakes; try to accept them with grace and learn from them. There were far too many times when my friends and I ran ourselves down for being stupid, clueless, or unworthy when we should have been looking for opportunities to support and praise each other.
4. Stay in Touch: Believe it or not, someday you’ll want to remember these years with the people you lived through them with. My trip down memory lane has included people I barely remember (but was close enough to at the time to exchange long rants about French class?), but it has also made me think nostalgically about once-close friends I let slip away. And it turns out you can’t find everyone online decades later (even on LinkedIn).
5. Remember: None of This Is Important (But, Also, It’s All Important): I know how huge everything feels right now—and I will do my best to remember that if you also believe me when I tell you that it’s temporary. The she-said-WHAT?! outrage. The you-went-to-the-movies-without-me pain. The they-asked-someone-else-to-the-dance heartbreak. The I-lost-the-student-council-election-because-my-opponent-got-the-vice-principal-to-fudge-the-sign-up-deadline disappointment. (Wait, that last one didn’t happen to everyone?) There are so many things I wish I could tell my teenage self to skip the tears about and maybe read a good book instead. But I remember how big it all felt then—and I will be ready with tissues when my daughter inevitably goes through it, too. And then we might talk a little smack about some of the other kids. Because when all is said and done, it is middle school. But it’s not forever.
I'm a mom of two living in the Bay Area and working as an editor at Common Sense Media. My kids love screens, LEGOS, screens, books, and screens. I also love screens, but I love my kids more. I'm a runner, a reader, a TV watcher, and an ally.
Celebrate Black History, Atlanta families, when you explore the city’s Civil Rights sites, landmarks, and museums
In Atlanta, we walk in the footsteps of Civil Rights leaders during Black History Month and every month. No matter what month it is, take the opportunity to honor and acknowledge Black contributions by taking a closer look at some of Atlanta’s (and our nation’s) most important historical sites—many of which we probably pass in carpool every day. Brush up on Black history with a Black history tour or history lesson, and see our city through entirely new eyes.
Black History Museums in Atlanta
Visit the Apex Museum
The Atlanta Black History Museum in the Sweet Auburn Historic District is packed with knowledge of the Black experience from Africa to America. While the museum focuses a great deal on slavery, it also takes a deep dive into African culture, Black inventors, and Black leaders. Exhibits span from “Africa the Untold Story,” where visitors can learn about the African continent over the past 6,000 years, to “Sweet Auburn Street Pride,” which helps visitors experience a more localized history of Black life in Atlanta.
What do you know about the Civil Rights Movement? Learn something new about the people from the past—famous and not-so-famous—who played a part in the movement. The Visitor Center, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Freedom Hall are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. The Birth Home is open for limited ranger-led tours. Fire Station No. 6 is staffed by park volunteers and is open when volunteers are available. All sites are free to the public.
During the 1920s, Auburn Avenue became the commercial center of Black Atlanta. The phrase "Sweet Auburn" was coined by businessman and civil rights activist John Wesley Dobbs, the Unofficial Mayor of Sweet Auburn, and the maternal grandfather of Atlanta's first Black mayor, Maynard Jackson. Today, the avenue is home to the Sweet Auburn Springfest, the Caribbean Festival & Parade, and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade. Here's the best way to spend a day in the Sweet Auburn Historic District: on a regular day, you'll find historical sites on every corner, small and large museums, and plenty of good places to grab lunch.
Begin your tour of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center by following the Civil Rights Walk of Fame, past the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, and proceed to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Visitor Center, where you can reserve a ticket for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home. Proceed east on Auburn to enter the King Center’s outdoor campus where you can view the crypt of Dr. and Mrs. King, the Eternal Flame, the Freedom Walkway, and the Reflecting Pool. Walk eastward along the pool to Freedom Hall, where you can learn more about Dr. King, Mrs. King, and The King Center through immersive exhibits.
Visit The National Center for Civil & Human Rights
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights believes in justice and dignity for all, and the power of people to make this idea real. They inspire visitors with immersive exhibitions, dynamic events and conversations, and engagement and education/training programs. Be sure to download their “Across Generations” intergenerational conversation starter for you to use on your visit.
Morehouse College, founded in 1867, is a historically Black, private liberal arts college for men. One of the college’s most distinguished alumni is Martin Luther King, Jr., who graduated in 1948. Inside The Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel you'll find a Hall of Honor, with 158 oil portraits of world leaders in the civil and human rights movement, and a bust of Mahatma Gandhi. Outside, you'll find a bronze statue of Dr. King, and the burial crypt and towering obelisk for Dr. Howard Washington Thurman.
At the former site of Yates & Milton Drug Store, which is now the Student Center on the campus of Clark Atlanta University, you can find a Georgia Historical Society marker that tells the story of the Atlanta Student Movement, which began when three Morehouse College students—Lonnie King, Joseph Pierce, and Julian Bond—formed the Committee on the Appeal for Human Rights and involved all the historically Black institutions of the Atlanta University Center (AUC). AUC students conducted sit-ins at segregated lunch counters throughout Atlanta, movie theaters, parks, and the Georgia State Capitol. When the students targeted the Magnolia Room at Rich's Department Store in downtown Atlanta, Martin Luther King, Jr. and his brother A.D. King joined them and were arrested with 77 student demonstrators. Protests continued over the next year until desegregation was achieved.
Corner of James P. Brawley Dr. SW & Atlanta Student Movement Blvd. Atlanta
greg keelen via unsplash
Rep. John Lewis Mural
This 70-foot mural of the late Rep. John Lewis is located on the east side of the current Renaissance Walk building. Lewis was a politician and civil rights leader who served as the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district. Located in an area downtown with much historical significance, you'll be walking in Lewis' footsteps if you go to pay this mural a visit. The Butler Street YMCA building, where civil rights leaders met in the 1960s, is directly south of this mural, and dozens of historical churches and businesses surround it in the Sweet Auburn Historic District.
219 Auburn Ave. N.E. Atlanta
Atlanta History Center
The exhibit Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow at the Atlanta History Center explores the Black struggle for full citizenship and racial equality that unfolded in the 50 years following the Civil War. It was created by the New York Historical Society in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and has a particular focus on local stories and artifacts. After checking out this virtual exhibit, pay a visit to the Smith Family Farm on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center, then to the Swan House to imagine these historic sites through the eyes of Black people during the time of their full operation.
Each Sunday, visitors from around the globe join church members at the historic church where Dr. Martin Luther King served as Pastor—in person at Ebenezer or via Ebenezer Everywhere—to experience Ebenezer’s history. The doors are open to all, and in addition to visiting the original church, you should be sure to check out the Visitor's Center, the nearby King Center, Birth Home, World Peace Rose Garden, and Behold Monument.
African American Burial Grounds Tour at Oakland Cemetery
Throughout February, Historic Oakland Foundation hosts guided walking tours of Oakland Cemetery’s historic African American Burial Grounds, with stops at the final resting places of a few Atlanta pioneers, including Carrie Steele Logan, founder of Atlanta’s first orphanage for African American children; William Finch, one of Atlanta’s first African American city councilmen; Bishop Wesley John Gaines and Julia A. Gaines, pastor and First Lady of Big Bethel A.M.E. Church; and Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first African American mayor.
Civil Bikes brings a fresh perspective to Civil Rights. Explore Atlanta's history and human rights issues on a guided bike tour that takes you to places that make Atlanta unique. Check out an upcoming schedule of Atlanta walking and bike tours of greater Atlanta, Georgia's storied Sweet Auburn, and historic West End neighborhoods. All tours are family-friendly and can accommodate any level of cyclists (or walkers!). Once you register for your Civil Bikes walking or bike tour, you will receive an email with details on where and when to meet, where to park, what to bring, and more.
The Atlanta Black History Tour follows the trail of Atlanta’s Black history while illuminating black life and achievement in the city from pre-Civil War to the present day. Unlike bike or walking tours, the Atlanta Black History Tour allows you to relax in a comfortable motorcoach as you tour the historical landmarks of Atlanta. The tour showcases Atlanta’s Black neighborhoods and highlights the homes of its leading citizens.
In Savannah, you'll find The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, which chronicles the civil rights struggle of Georgia's oldest Black community from slavery to the present.
Head to coastal Sapelo Island to experience African-influenced Gullah-Geechee culture. It's open for tours throughout the year.
