IN LOVING MEMORY OF JO ANN BLAND
1953-2026
TO REMEMBER, CELEBRATE AND INSPIRE
"It’s my belief that movements for social change are like jigsaw puzzles. Everyone is a unique and special piece. If your piece is missing, the picture is not complete. Why? Because you’re the most important piece."
-Jo Ann Bland
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During her lifetime, Jo Ann Bland was both a witness and a participant in some of our nation's most consequential civil rights battles. Born and raised in Selma, Alabama, Jo Ann saw first-hand how racism and segregation created a deadly divide between two races. Bland was a highly active participant in the Civil Rights Movement from her earliest days, and was the youngest person to have been jailed during any civil rights demonstration during that period.
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Her passion for the movement inspired Jo Ann to co-found the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama, where she was the former director.
She was​ the heart and inspiration behind our mission and helped us believe in the power of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
We miss her deeply and will carry her story forward every day in the programs she helped shape and the communities she touched.
At JTC Experiences we will continue to honor her legacy and continue her vision.
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