The North Carolina College and Cultural Enrichment Tour, scheduled for September 7–10, 2025, is a thoughtfully designed educational experience that will provide students supported by the PBI grant with the opportunity to explore a range of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs), while also engaging deeply with African-American history, culture, and community. This four-day journey will take participants through the cities of Greensboro, Durham, and Charlotte, North Carolina, and aims to strengthen students’ academic awareness, cultural identity, and leadership development. Throughout the tour, students will visit five distinguished institutions: North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Duke University, Johnson C. Smith University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. These visits will include guided campus tours, student ambassador-led discussions, admissions presentations, and optional sessions with specialized programs such as diversity and inclusion centers or honors colleges. The intention is to expose students to a variety of academic settings and campus cultures, allowing them to envision the possibilities for their own educational journeys. In addition to these campus experiences, the tour integrates several powerful cultural components designed to promote personal reflection and social consciousness. Students will visit the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, where they will explore the legacy of the Greensboro Four and the broader Civil Rights Movement. In Charlotte, the group will tour the Harvey B. Gantt Center for AfricanAmerican Arts + Culture, where art and history intersect to amplify the voices and experiences of the African-American community. Furthermore, a social justice-themed community service project will be incorporated into the itinerary to encourage civic engagement and active citizenship. This service component is not only a meaningful way to give back but also serves as a platform for students to connect their academic goals with their responsibility to their communities.
