Joanne Bland

Joanne Bland is a civil rights activist who joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee as a child and became one of the youngest participants jailed during demonstrations. Bland marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, witnessing violence against fellow activists, and continued through Turn Around Tuesday and the Selma to Montgomery march, contributing to the movement for voting rights legislation. Her early arrests—documented at least 13 times by age 11—underscore her commitment to nonviolent protest and civil rights advocacy.

After serving in the U.S. Army and earning a degree from the College of Staten Island, Bland returned to Selma and co-founded the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute to preserve the legacy of the voting rights movement. She later established Journeys for the Soul, a tour agency guiding visitors through Selma's civil rights history, and co-founded Foot Soldiers Park and Education Center, which works to ensure the stories of foot soldiers are preserved. Through these initiatives, Bland has established herself as an educator and historian, drawing audiences interested in civil rights history and social justice.

Bland has served as a keynote speaker at institutions including the Smithsonian, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and UW-Eau Claire, as well as at conferences and events nationwide. She shares her personal experiences to encourage voter engagement and activism, participating in peace and justice fellowships and Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations. Bland connects past sacrifices with present responsibilities, emphasizing the ongoing importance of voting rights and civic participation.