Stony the Road

In 2025, the Alabama Humanities Alliance invited Alabama’s K-12 teachers to participate in a week-long field study of Alabama’s role in the movement for human and civil rights. This immersive, residential experience (July 8-11, 2025) takes participants to sites of conscience across the state, helping teachers bring this history to life for their students. Selection is competitive.

How educators are selected

A selection committee, comprised of the project director and two colleagues, evaluates all complete applications to select a group of participants and identify alternates.

Eligibility is determined based on information in the résumé, essay, and letter of support indicating an applicant’s:

• Professional effectiveness and commitment;

• Intellectual interests as they relate to study of the civil and human rights movement history of Alabama;

• Perspectives, skills, or experiences that would contribute to the group’s experience during and after the Field Study.

• Evidence that participation in the institute will have a long-term impact on the applicant’s teaching is important for the committee to see.

Participant benefits

• Interact with leaders, foot soldiers, and scholars of the civil rights movement 

• Travel to key sites of memory and sites preserving this history statewide 

• Access invaluable primary sources and archival footage for research 

• Receive copies of all assigned texts and classroom resources 

• Develop a lesson plan before departing for home 

NOTE: All Alabama educators selected to participate receive a $500 stipend. Group transportation, accommodations, and most meals provided.

Stony the Road’s project director

Martha Bouyer, Ph.D., educator, Alabama Humanities Fellow, and executive director of the Historic Bethel Baptist Church Community Restoration Fund.

Learn more about Dr. Bouyer.