February2026
LEKGOTLA
Noun • South Africa a meeting or gathering of wise, thoughtful leaders with sharp minds and big hearts
Dear Fellow Travelers, Visionaries, and Changemakers,
Welcome to the Lekgotla Journey to Montgomery! We are honored and excited to embark on this transformative experience with each of you.
Lekgotla is more than a gathering—it is a sacred space for reflection, dialogue, and collective visioning. Rooted in traditions of wisdom and community, Lekgotla invites us to come together with open minds and hearts: to listen deeply, share boldly, and co-create a future shaped by our shared values and aspirations
Montgomery, a central site of the civil rights movement, embodies both the struggle and the progress of the fight for justice. This journey immerses participants in the city’s pivotal role in American civil rights history while highlighting its ongoing significance as a center for justice, activism, and civic leadership.
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As we step into this space together, let us embrace the spirit of Lekgotla—learning from one another, honoring our diverse perspectives, and nurturing the collective wisdom that will guide us forward. May our time together spark ripples of change— within ourselves, within our communities, and in the world beyond.
Thank you for being part of this journey. We look forward to building, growing, and celebrating with you.
With deep gratitude and excitement,
Kristen Atwood Founder & Board Chair
Jennie Eplett Reilly Founding Vice Chair
Cindy Laba Director
AboUTTHE JOURNEY
Guided by Bryan Stevenson’s extraordinary vision, the Equal Justice Initiative has transformed Montgomery into a sacred landscape of truth and remembrance. Through the Legacy Museum, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, visitors embark on a powerful journey that bears witness to the history of enslavement, lynching, and mass incarceration— stories told through art, voice, and memory.
These spaces stir the soul and invite deep reflection, calling us to confront injustice and embrace the shared work of healing. What Bryan and his team have built is not just a museum or a memorial—it is a pilgrimage of hope, courage, and renewal for all who believe in the power of truth to set us free.
Date
Thursday 2/5
Friday 2/6
Activities
Welcome Circle at The Pavilion at The Legacy Museum
Lunch inside the Legacy Museum with Bryan Stevenson
Participation in a guided tour of the Legacy Museum, engaging with interactive exhibits and historical narratives that examine enslavement, racial injustice, and mass incarceration in the United States Museum Reflection, led by Raymond Jetson
Community dinner, joined by Doris Crenshaw – creating space for conversation, connection, and thoughtful closure
Riverboat journey along the Alabama River to Freedom Monument
Sculpture Park
Spend the morning moving at your own pace through the Sculpture Park and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice
Visit Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute for lunch and conversation with Judge Myron Thompson and Executive Director, Thomas Rains
Southern Poverty Law Center for a conversation with Joe Levin
Evening gathering at the home of Peggy Mussafer, joined by local civil rights leaders, for shared reflection and community.
1:00 pm
FacingHistory, FormingCommunity
Today’s Schedule
Welcome Circle at the Pavilion at The Legacy Museum
1:30 pm Lunch with Bryan Stevenson
2:30 pm The Legacy Museum Visit
5:00 pm Reflection
5:30 pm Depart for Hotel
7:15 pm Depart for Dinner
7:30 pm
Community Dinner with Doris Crenshaw 10:00 pm Return to Hotel Thursday February5
Our journey begins with a Welcome Circle at The Pavilion at The Legacy Museum. This opening moment sets the tone for the experience, inviting connection, shared purpose, and thoughtful engagement with the history that will be explored throughout the day.
≠Facing History, Forming Community
We will then share lunch inside the Legacy Museum, joined by Bryan Stevenson, providing a moment to pause, connect, and prepare for the powerful experience ahead Following lunch, participants take part in a self-guided tours of the Legacy Museum, where interactive exhibits and historical narratives trace the legacy of enslavement, racial injustice, and mass incarceration in the United States This immersive experience encourages deep reflection and meaningful dialogue. We will reconvene at The Pavilion for a brief reflection at 5:00pm, led by Raymond Jetson.
After the museum visit, the group returns to the hotel for rest and personal time to process the afternoon’s experiences. The day concludes with a community dinner, at Central Restaurant, where we will be joined by Doris Crenshaw.
This evening will give time for everyone to be together once more to share reflections, build connection, and thoughtfully close a day centered on learning, remembrance, and collective understanding
LandmarksofCourage: TracingthePathofJustice
After breakfast at the hotel, our day begins on the water. We invite you to travel by riverboat along the Alabama River. During this 15-minute ride, participants will have time to take in the landscape and reflect as we make our way toward Freedom Monument Sculpture Park We will gather and formally begin the day’s program. Shuttle service will be available throughout the day between all sites.
After our welcome at the park, Lekgotla travelers are invited to move at their own pace through both Freedom Monument Sculpture Park and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
At 1:00 p m , we will depart for the Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute, where we will share lunch and be welcomed by Judge Myron Thompson. This stop offers an opportunity to connect the historical experiences of the morning with the ongoing work of justice and the rule of law. (Photo ID required. No cell phones inside.)
At 2:30 p m , we will continue to the Southern Poverty Law Center for a conversation with Joe Levin, whose insights will further ground the day in the contemporary fight for civil and human rights.
We will return to the hotel around 5:00 p.m. Our route will pass by many significant civil rights landmarks, offering a moving visual reminder of Montgomery’s central role in the struggle for justice.
In the evening, please be ready by 6:15 p m to depart by shuttle bus for dinner at the home of Peggy Mussafer, a longtime community advocate and supporter of civic and social justice initiatives. We will be joined by local civil rights leaders for an intimate gathering that invites conversation, connection, and shared reflection.
am
8:45 am Morning Circle 9:00 am Depart hotel
9:30 am Boat Departure
9:50 am
Freedom Monument Sculpture Park & The National Memorial for Peace and Justice 1:15 pm
Lunch at Judge Frank M Johnson, Jr Institute 2:45 pm Southern Poverty Law Center
4:00 pm Bus Tour
6:15 pm Depart for Dinner
Community Dinner at Peggy Mussafer’s Home 10:00 pm Return to Hotel Friday February6
6:30 pm
Organization
places we will visit places we will visit
Description
Freedom Monument
Sculpture Park
Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute
At this 17-acre site along the very river where tens of thousands of enslaved people were trafficked, breathtaking art and original artifacts invite an immersive, interactive journey and provide a unique view into the lives of enslaved people Listen to Muscogee family stories as they were told centuries ago on this very spot Step inside a train car like those used to traffic enslaved people to Montgomery – as you hear trains pass on nearby tracks originally laid by enslaved people. Stand before an authentic dwelling inhabited by enslaved people and marvel at sculptures created from bricks made by enslaved artisans.
The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute is a non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public about the U.S. Constitution, the federal judiciary, and the legacy of Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Through courthouse tours, educational programs, and outreach initiatives, the Institute promotes an understanding of landmark cases, constitutional principles, and civic engagement
On the site of a cotton warehouse where enslaved Black people were forced to labor in bondage, the Legacy Museum tells the story of slavery in America and its legacy through interactive media, first-person narratives, world-class art, and data-rich exhibits.
The Legacy Museum
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
Travel through a comprehensive history of the destructive violence that shaped our nation, from the slave trade, to the era of Jim Crow and racial terror lynchings, to our current mass incarceration crisis and find inspiration in the soaring Reflection Space and world-class art gallery
On a hilltop overlooking Montgomery is the nation’s first comprehensive memorial dedicated to the legacy of Black Americans who were enslaved, terrorized by lynching, humiliated by racial segregation, and presumed guilty and dangerous
More than 4,400 Black people killed in racial terror lynchings between 1877 and 1950 are remembered here. Their names are engraved on more than 800 Corten steel monuments one for each county where a racial terror lynching took place that form the main structure of the memorial at the heart of this six-acre site.
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is a nonprofit civil rights organization based in Montgomery, Alabama, dedicated to fighting hate, bigotry, and systemic injustice It works through legal advocacy, education, research, and community partnership to dismantle white supremacy, protect civil rights, and advance equality for marginalized communities
The SPLC is known for its litigation against discriminatory practices, public education programs, and efforts to monitor and expose hate groups and extremist activity nationwide
people We will Meet people We will Meet
Who
Charles Alphin, Sr.
Doris Crenshaw
Joe Levin
Biography
Charles Alphin, Sr. served more than 26 years with the St. Louis City Police Department, rising to the rank of captain and retiring as Commander of Vice/Narcotics after leading Homicide/Rape and Child Abuse and serving as District Commander. In 1992, at the request of Coretta Scott King, he moved to Atlanta to work at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, where he became Director of Education and Training. He later joined LaFayette & Associates under the mentorship of Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr. Captain Alphin has trained nationally and internationally in Kingian Nonviolence, including four months in South Africa helping train more than 220,000 citizens during the historic elections that led to Nelson Mandela’s inauguration
Doris Dozier Crenshaw is a lifelong community activist, civic leader, and founder of the Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute. With more than six decades of experience, her work spans grassroots organizing, national political leadership, and youth development. She began her activism at age 12 as vice president of the NAACP Youth Council, where Rosa Parks served as advisor, and later worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Chicago Open Housing Campaign. Doris has held leadership roles with the Carter White House, national presidential campaigns, and major civil rights initiatives, including mobilization efforts led by Coretta Scott King and Dorothy Height Widely honored for her service, she remains deeply committed to advancing justice, leadership, and community empowerment
Raymond A. Jetson is a community change leader and social innovator who leads MetroMorphosis, a Baton Rouge–based social enterprise focused on advancing racial, social, and economic equity through asset-based, community-centered transformation. In 2023, he launched Aging While Black, a movement elevating the voices and wellbeing of Black elders through community, innovation, and cultural wisdom. Jetson brings a distinguished record of public service, including roles as a Louisiana state representative for 15 years, deputy secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, CEO of the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps, and longtime pastor of Star Hill Church. He is a recognized national voice on community engagement and social change.
Joe Levin the Southern Poverty Law Center with Morris Dees in 1971 and was SPLC's legal director from 1971 until 1976. Levin worked on more than 50 major civil rights cases. He argued the landmark sex discrimination case, Frontiero vs. Richardson, in which the U.S. Supreme court struck down a federal law giving preferences to men in the military. In 1976, Levin left the SPLC to work for President-elect Carter's Justice Department transition team. He was Special Assistant to the Attorney General and Chief Counsel to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under President Carter. After Ronald Reagan was elected, Levin began a private practice which he ran until 1996 when he resumed his work with the SPLC as its CEO for a time. Beginning in November 2003, Levin became president emeritus
Raymond A. Jetson
people We will Meet people We will Meet
Who Biography
Peggy Mussafer is one of those people who seems to know everyone and somehow actually does. She laughs easily, is endlessly generous with her time, and is an absolute force of nature. If you get the chance to talk with her, take it you’ll leave smiling and better for it.
Peggy Mussafer
A longtime interior designer, Peggy is a proud alum of Leadership Alabama and Leadership Montgomery, and a graduate of Newcomb College at Tulane University, where she met her beloved husband, Maurice “Mo” Mussafer Married the same year they met, Peggy and Mo built a life rooted in love, humor, and deep commitment to family and community
Peggy has served as past president of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and remains deeply woven into the life of the city Still leading, still connecting, and still lighting up every room she enters, Peggy brings energy, warmth, and heart wherever she goes
Thomas Rains is Executive Director of The Judge Johnson Institute and its first employee, joining the organization in 2019. He previously worked to advance education policy focused on college and career readiness across Alabama and has experience as a middle school teacher in the Mississippi Delta, a journalist in New York, and a policy researcher in Washington, DC.
Thomas serves on the advisory boards of Teach For America–Alabama and the Family Guidance Center of Montgomery’s Success by Six A graduate of Leadership Alabama (Class XXXIV) and Leadership Montgomery, he holds an MPA from Columbia University and dual bachelor’s degrees from Boston University Raised in Alabama, Thomas and his family have called Montgomery home since 2011
Bryan Stevenson is a civil rights lawyer, educator, and the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he has dedicated his career to challenging racial injustice, excessive punishment, and wrongful convictions in the United States. Stevenson has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and played a leading role in landmark cases addressing the death penalty, life-without-parole sentences for children, and the treatment of incarcerated people.
He is the author of Just Mercy, a bestselling book that explores the intersection of justice, mercy, and redemption and has been adapted into a major motion picture. Through his legal advocacy, public education, and memorial projects, Stevenson has helped reshape national conversations about justice, history, and human dignity
Judge Myron Thompson devoted his career to public service and the fair administration of justice. Appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama in 1994, he served for more than two decades, earning respect for his integrity, clarity, and commitment to the rule of law He assumed senior status in 2009 and continued to hear cases until his retirement in 2017 Before joining the federal bench, Judge Thompson served as Alabama State Finance Director, Deputy Attorney General, and a judge on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Throughout his judicial service, he presided over significant cases involving constitutional rights and criminal justice He is widely admired for his collegiality, mentorship of young lawyers, and dedication to strengthening public trust in the judiciary
Thomas Rains
Bryan Stevenson
Judge Myron Thompson
Lekgotla Travelers Lekgotla Travelers
We are deeply grateful to this incredible group of sharp minds and big hearts for joining the Lekgotla trip to Montgomery. Through your insight, passion, and generosity, you will create meaningful connections and lasting impact. We are honored to share this journey with you!
Name
Top Three Values Email
Charles Alphin Spirituality, Family, Honesty alphincharles@gmail com
Erika Alvarez Werner Integrity, Community, Grace ealvarezwerner@gmail.com
Jim Atwood Family, Family, Family james.atwood591@gmail.com
Kristen Atwood Gratitude, Authenticity, Ubuntu Kristenatwood5@gmail com
Chris Bell Authenticity, Integrity, Freedom chris bell@newprofit org
Holly Bonomo Open heartedness, Creativity, Humility bonomoh@mac.com
Michael Brown Inclusion, Integrity, Democracy mbrown@publicpurpose.net
Maureen Coffey Presence, Authenticity, Land stewardship blackcoffeymaureen@gmail com
Molly Cramer Kindness, Family, Ethical mollyrogerscramer@gmail com
Leonard Egerton Humanity, My relationship with my wife Clarrissa and children, Respect legerton@icbvinc.com
Jennie Eplett Reilly Faith, Family, Creativity, Gratitude JERworkshop@gmail com
Nicole Felton Honesty, Fairness, Empathy nfelton6@aol com
Raymond Jetson Stewardship, Community, Imagination raymond@agingwhileblack.co
Alan Khazei Love, Community, Justice alankhazei@gmail.com
Vanessa Kirsch Love, Justice , Curiosity vanessa kirsch@newprofit org
Cindy Laba Grit, Courage, Forgiveness cindylaba@ripplesofhope org
Jailen Leavell Integrity, Compassion, Knowledge Jmleav01@gmail.com
Kate Lilienthal Responsibility, Tolerance, Care hey kate@yahoo.com
JB Lyon Love, Equality, Trust jblyon16@gmail com
Lekgotla Travelers Lekgotla Travelers
Name
Top Three Values
Kristina Lyons Honesty, Kindness, Courage, Humor kristinaharelyons@icloud com
Charlotte Mao Kindness, Caring, Following "Golden Rule" cmao64@gmail com
Lynda Macdonald Family, Compassion, Curiosity lblmacdonald@gmail com
Maryfrances Metrick Honesty, Compassion, Commitment maryfranceslouise@gmail com
Valerie Mosely Family, Kindness, Community Responsibility Valerie@GetBrightUp com
Katie Pakenham Relationships, Creativity, Integrity kpakenham@gmail com
Dianna Payton Spirituality/Faith, Love, Integrity paytond@YWCA-BR ORG
Daunte Pean Respect, Community, Optimism peandaunte@gmail com
Sean Reilly Family, Loyalty, Integrity sreilly@lamarcom
Catherine Rose Kindness, Curiosity, Persistence fivelazyr@me com
Eric Schwarz Community, Stewardship, Equalizing access to life-changing experiences eric.schwarz@collegeforsocialinno vation.org
Shruti Sehra Fairness, Autonomy, Relatedness shruti96@gmail com
Kim Syman Curiosity, Hope, Agency ksyman@gmail com
Brian Trelstad Integrity, Loyalty, Curiosity btrelstad@hbs edu
Kyle Umemba Family, God, Community kumemba@gmail com
John Werner Creativity, Curiosity, Passion johnkwerner09@gmail com
Danielle West Authenticity, Accountability, Empathy daniellewest@ripplesofhope org
About the Fellowship AbouttheFellowship
Founded in 2022 to honor the life and legacy of social entrepreneur Greg Ricks, the Ripples of Hope International Fellowship selects 12–15 young adult leaders each year from South Africa and the United States to participate in a life-changing experience in both countries.
The Fellowship targets motivated change agents who share a commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity, equity, inclusion, and hope. Fellows are selected for their passion, demonstrated commitment, and unique potential as community leaders driving social change and community-led movements for justice.
This distinctive international program engages Fellows in a cohort-based experience of learning across boundaries and builds a values-driven pipeline of social entrepreneurs. Fellows commit to a year of monthly virtual workshops, two intensive cultural immersions in the United States and South Africa, and regular meetings with a personalized coach As a result, Fellows become part of a lifelong international learning community composed of educators, activists, and social change agents from all walks of life and backgrounds
Meet the Fellows Meet the Fellows
The Class of 2026
Our fourth cohort of Ripples of Hope Fellows brings diverse cultural backgrounds, experiences, and passions while all share a commitment for service and inciting social change. These Fellows kicked off their Fellowship in the United States.
Sky Chacon
USA
Housing justice advocate and sustainable urban systems researcher
Cameron Farrar
USA
Doctoral Student at Syracuse University studying Sociology
Ashwyne Dames
South Africa Psychology student and social change advocate
SouthAfrica
Environmentand Developmentstudentat StellenboschUniversity; Aspiringurbanplanner
PhD fellow at the Center for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and the Reparative Quest
USA Communications Professional
JordanSarah Langehoven
Jailen Leavell
Meet the Fellows Meet the Fellows
The Class of 2026
student, Stellenbosch University
Mzimela South Africa
Donay October South Africa
Information Systems student at University of Cape Town
Jordan Stanley
USA
Student at the University of New Hampshire: Social Work, Sustainability, and Dance
Political Studies graduate, University of the Western Cape; Founder, October Foundation
Ryan Vaughan USA
Marketing Manager at Friends of Southwest Virginia
, e Sisterhood Foundation
USA
2025 Graduate of Northeastern University; Incoming Deloitte Analyst; Founder of Reeva.
York USA
UChicago MPP Graduate and Equitable Education Advocate
Daunte Pean
Fletcher
Thando
How we support our work How we support our work
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Ripples of Hope is supported by generous gifts and grants from foundations, corporations, and philanthropic individuals and families.
The Ripples of Hope Ubuntu Circle
Launched in 2024, the Ubuntu Circle is our major gift program, uniting a community of engaged and thoughtful donors who make an annual commitment to support the vital work of Ripples of Hope. Our goal is to raise $525,000 in annual donations from this very special community of philanthropic families.
The Ubuntu Circle Giving Levels are as follows:
Platinum Level: $100,000
Gold Level: $50,000
Silver Level: $25,000
Bronze Level: $10,000
Members of The Ubuntu Circle are provided with special opportunities for service, speaker series, and journeys. Please consider joining!
NOTES & REflections NOTES & REflections
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NOTES & REflections NOTES & REflections