Morgan State University Traveling Cohort
Lifeways of Hope Comes to Los Angeles
This year, the CRC continues its Lifeways of Hope project, which launched in 2022 when the CRC was awarded a nearly $1 million dollar grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. Focusing on the connective tissues between us– the land in our cities– and by centering relationships, the Lifeways project seeks to improve collaborative work among community partners, scholars, and students. As part of this mission, the CRC has developed a partnership with the Fowler Museum at the University of California - Los Angeles: the Museum Experience Lab, Directed by Amy Landau.
The student trip with Morgan State students to Los Angeles in partnership with UCLA's Fowler Museum represents a groundbreaking effort to foster cross-institutional collaboration, cultural exchange, and community engagement through the arts and academia. Spanning from May 28 to June 4, 2025, this immersive experience is designed to deepen students' understanding of Black life, urban ecology, social justice, and the civic role of museums, all within the vibrant Los Angeles landscape. The itinerary is rich with research, site visits, dialogues with community leaders, and artistic performances, allowing students to explore the intersections of history, activism, spirituality, and urban development. This trip not only enhances academic learning but also cultivates a sense of collective responsibility and cultural pride, empowering students to envision and contribute to more equitable, connected communities.
Supported by generous grants from MacKenzie Scott, the Henry Luce Foundation, and UCLA’s Ralph J. Bunche Center, the program emphasizes reciprocal partnership, digital curricula development, and artist-educator residencies. Engaging with iconic institutions such as the Skirball Cultural Center, Crenshaw Dairy Mart, and the Huntington Library, students are encouraged to critically reflect on issues like racial justice, community healing, and urban sustainability. Through meaningful dialogue, artistic expression, and experiential learning, this trip aims to inspire a new generation of culturally conscious leaders committed to social change—drawing connections between Los Angeles and Baltimore while fostering a global perspective rooted in local action.
Los Angeles Trip Itinerary
Explore the itinerary of the experience that sought to deepen understanding of museum roles in civic life, support co-created projects, and foster ongoing partnerships that advance scholarship, public engagement, and community well-being.
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Participants will collaborate on documenting their discussions, principles, and theories through a comprehensive digital workbook, and will participate in activities that promote reflection on their personal and collective connections to bodies of water, community, and place.