PILGRIM WITH US

Our Reverse Migration Story

Two people smiling inside a car, with the woman on the left making a peace sign.

We Finally Did It

On May 1st, we hit the road—from Phoenix, AZ to Durham, NC—for a 12-day pilgrimage into the heart of our calling. Along the way, we stopped in cities that hold deep meaning to our story and formation.

We introduced you to beloved friends, shared reflections at meaningful landmarks, and went LIVE so you could walk the road with us in real time. This page served as our digital trail—thank you for following along and checking back for videos, photos, and stories as they unfolded.

OUR PILGRIMAGE OF

REVERSE MIGRATION

Our Reverse Migration - Part 11: Charleston, SC by Kendall & Erin Dooley

The Final Stop Before Home to Durham, NC

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Our Reverse Migration - Part 10: Atlanta, GA by Kendall & Erin Dooley

Loud Love, Nonviolent Roads, and the Architecture of Home

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Our Reverse Migration - Part 9: Memphis, TN by Kendall & Erin Dooley

Grieving, Laughing, and Marching in the Shadow of the Lorraine Motel

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Our Reverse Migration - Part 8: Jackson, MS by Kendall & Erin Dooley

A journey through Jackson’s buried brilliance, a museum’s painful omissions, and the haunting truths my body remembered in DeSoto County.

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Our Reverse Migration- Part 7: New Orleans by Kendall & Erin Dooley

How a City Preserves Its Soul and Culture Refuses to Die

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Our Reverse Migration - Part 6: Austin, TX by Kendall & Erin Dooley

Peace Be With You: In a city full of joy, displacement, and unlikely wisdom, we remembered what kind of people we want to be.

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Our Reverse Migration - Part 5: Taos, NM by Kendall & Erin Dooley

On the Road Update - Newsletter: May 2025

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Our Reverse Migration - Part 4: Leaving In Love by Kendall & Erin Dooley

How Our Phoenix Community Sent Us Out

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Our Reverse Migration - Part 3: Black Ancestry and an Unexpected Check from the IRS by Kendall & Erin Dooley

Three stories from the road about memory, mission, and the mystery of divine provision.

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Our Reverse Migration - Part 2: A Meditation on Place by Kendall & Erin Dooley

Place as prayer: remembering who we are by remembering where we are.

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Our Reverse Migration - Part 1: The Weight of the Journey by Kendall & Erin Dooley

On carrying hope, history, and heartache through the long road ahead.

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Reimagining the American Dream: A Black Family’s Journey Back to the South by Kendall & Erin Dooley

What if the American Dream was never meant for all of us? And what happens when we reclaim it—on our own terms, with our whole selves?

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BLK South Matching Campaign

We also invited folks to be part of the journey in another powerful way through our $25,000 Matching Campaign to support our next chapter in Durham. We had hoped to raise the full $25K during the pilgrimage, and while we didn’t reach that goal, we did raise just over $8,000—thanks to so many of you who gave generously along the way.

The good news? The opportunity to give is still open, and every dollar will continue to be matched by generous donors who wish to remain anonymous. Your gift helps fuel our mission to seek the development, vibrancy, and well-being of underserved, historic African American neighborhoods in the South. Whether you give or simply witness the journey, your presence matters deeply. This is still a road to new beginnings—a journey our ancestors have taken before—and there’s still time to travel it with us.

The Places We Went

 
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