Marion Community Foundation grants support programs and organizations that are creating a positive future in Marion. These are just a sample.
Freedom Riders
When tennis great Arthur Ashe said, “Success is a journey, not a destination,” he could have been talking about a group of Marion students—and the journey they are taking through Logos Ministries’ Freedom Riders trips.
Made possible in part by Marion Community Foundation grants and supported by the Dennis & Sara Trachsel Foundation, the Freedom Riders trips teach students about the civil rights movement by taking them where history happened. But, Pastor Jackie Peterson, who leads the trips, has discovered that the lessons extend far beyond history.
Since 2022, Peterson has led middle and high school students on educational journeys to Atlanta, Memphis and, this year, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Along the way, students have learned about civil rights and social justice—but they have also learned about themselves, their potential, and the world beyond Marion.
“The Freedom Riders trips have been a good journey. We have loved seeing students develop themselves and become more respectful, grounded, productive people as a result.”
Pastor Jackie Peterson, Logos Ministries
The 2026 trip, scheduled for October 18-22, will be the third Freedom Riders journey. For four days, students will explore Tulsa’s civil rights history and consider how that history continues to shape society. They will visit Langston University, the Greenwood District—historic Black Wall Street—and John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park. Peterson and the trip’s chaperones recently made an advance trip to Tulsa to prepare for the students’ visit. For Peterson, that preparation was personal.
“Having lived through the 1960s myself,” Peterson said, “I found the civil rights museum exhibits to be very emotional. I want to be able to express that and share my first-hand experiences of that time with the students in a way that will be meaningful.”
That personal connection is an important part of the experience. Students are not simply reading a history book. They are walking through places that carry the stories—and scars—of the past.
“Some students will be challenged to take a historically candid look at civil rights and social justice and make valuable connections, while others will be exposed for the first time,” Peterson said. “By fostering critical thinking and civic responsibility, we empower our students to be informed advocates for equality and justice in the Marion community and beyond.”
She added, some of the most meaningful lessons clearly happen outside the museums and historic sites. Some student participants have never traveled beyond Marion or been on an airplane. Peterson sees those moments as opportunities to teach skills that might otherwise seem ordinary—but can be life-changing for a young person. She has collected donated suitcases, taught students how to pack appropriately, and how to navigate situations like airport security and dining in formal restaurants.
“They learn as much about themselves, expanding their horizons, and uplifting their expectations, as they do about history,” she said.
Each trip includes a visit to a historically Black college or university, giving students the opportunity to see college as a possibility for their own futures. And, the results are encouraging.
Peterson is proud that 100 percent of the students who have gone on the trips have graduated high school and are now in college, the military, or employed.
“These trips will forever be memories that I hold close to me,” said Jaleah Freeman, who has been on Freedom Riders trips as a freshman and a junior. “The experience taught me teamwork, togetherness, history, trust…and helped me learn some maturity. Both trips were educational and fascinating.”
For the 2026 trip, students had an additional hurdle to clear: an application process that included an essay. Peterson wanted to make sure the students selected for the 12 available spots were genuinely motivated to participate and ready to make the most of the opportunity. More than 20 students applied.
For those 12 students, the next Freedom Riders journey will be about much more than visiting new places. It will be about seeing history firsthand, discovering new possibilities and, perhaps, seeing themselves a little differently when they return home. And, that may be the greatest destination of all.
Programs & Organizations that are impacting the future of Marion with grant support from Marion Community Foundation
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB The Boys & Girls Club of Marion County serves more than 800 youth annually through comprehensive K-12 programming. The Club provides a safe, supportive environment where kids build confidence, friendships, and skills for a bright future.
MARION FAMILY YMCA At the Y and The Rec downtown, youth learn values and positive behaviors while exploring their unique talents and interests, helping them realize their potential. That makes for confident kids today and contributing, engaged adults tomorrow.
IMAGINATION LIBRARY In Marion County, 74 percent of eligible children from birth to age five receive a free book each month from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This investment in early childhood literacy generates future returns to our community through education savings, improved health outcomes, workforce development and economic growth.
MAYES COMMUNITY TEMPLE Mayes Community Temple’s Boys to Men and Ladies 101 are community-based minority role model programs designed to positively transform individual potential into collective community power. These programs help young people believe in themselves, foster resilience, and develop essential manners and communication skills.
MARION MATTERS Marion Matters provides leadership, skills, and training in developing sustainable pathways out of instability through education, support, and coaching. Their signature program, “Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World,” gives the tools and relationships to people to improve their future and the future of our community.
EMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Early Learning Center Emanuel Lutheran Church cares for Marion children ages six weeks to five years. Their teachers create an environment of respect building on individual, developmental, and cultural differences among children that provide the foundation for thriving future adults.
MARION AREA BOXING CLUB This two-year-old organization provides a free structured youth program, teaching sportmanship, teamwork & self-discipline. Coaches serve as mentors to Club members, who gain experience through regular training, sparring sessions and competitions. Organizer Tim Jones says, “Boxing has changed many lives of Marion kids.”
