2026 Montgomery Bus Boycott Commemoration — Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute

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71st Commemoration of the Montgomery Bus Boycott

December 4-5, 2026 | Montgomery, Alabama

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested after refusing to surrender her seat on a Montgomery city bus. Four days later, following a community-wide mass meeting attended by more than 5,000 people, the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott began. More than seven decades later, the legacy of the Montgomery Bus Boycott continues to inspire people around the world.

Each year, we gather in Montgomery to celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Mrs. Rosa Parks and to recognize individuals whose courage, leadership, and service carry her legacy forward.

The Rosa L. Parks Gala & Awards and other commemorative events hosted by SYLDI honor the movement’s origins, uplift the families and communities that made it possible, and ensure the lessons learned from our ancestors are shared with a new generation.

Rosa Parks & Southern Youth

Doris Crenshaw was 12 years old when Mrs. Parks became her mentor and teacher through the NAACP Youth Council. Through their time together, Mrs. Parks shared her deep love for “our people” and taught Doris the importance of voting, civic engagement, and advocating for one’s community. Those lessons helped shape Doris’ decision to establish the Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute, whose approach remains rooted in what she learned from her time with Mrs. Parks.

At SYLDI, we are committed to ensuring that young people understand that Mrs. Parks' legacy is not simply history to be remembered. It is a responsibility to be carried forward.

Proceeds from the annual Rosa L. Parks Gala & Awards help SYLDI continue its work to educate, develop, and prepare young people to become informed, engaged, and effective leaders in their communities.

2026 Commemoration Events

Bus Boycott Family Reunion

Friday, December 4, 2026
7:00 - 9:00 PM
The Montgomery Interpretive Center, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail
On the Campus of Alabama State University
A private gathering celebrating the men and women, and their families, who organized, led, and sustained the Civil Rights Movement since 1955.

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Rosa L. Parks Anniversary Interfaith Service

Saturday, December 5, 2026
10:00 - 11:30 AM
Mount Zion AME Zion Church
455 West Fred D. Gray Avenue, Montgomery, AL
A grounding moment of prayer, fellowship, and spiritual reflection centered on moral courage, leadership development, and collective responsibility.

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Rosa L. Parks Gala & Awards

Saturday, December 5, 2026
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Elevation Convening Center & Hotel
600 Montgomery St, Montgomery, AL
Celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Mrs. Rosa Parks and recognize individuals whose courage, leadership, creativity, and service continue to inspire and empower the next generation.

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