Students and staff at Dixon High School gathered at 11:14 a.m. Feb. 13 for a Black History Month Community Unity Walk at the campus, 555 College Way. Photo courtesy of Dixon High School

DIXON, CA (MPG) – Students and staff at Dixon High School gathered at 11:14 a.m. Feb. 13 for a Black History Month Community Unity Walk at the campus, 555 College Way.

The event was organized by teacher Kristina Gregory and her Ethnic Studies class as part of the school’s African American/Black Studies unit. Gregory, who teaches English 9, World History and Ethnic Studies, said the idea grew out of classroom lessons on the Civil Rights Movement and the theme of walking in unity.

“What inspired us to organize the community unity walk for Black History Month was that at Dixon High School, we embrace everyone in our school community and have heritage months represented and celebrated,” said Gregory.

“In our Ethnic Studies class at the beginning of February, we started our African American/Black Studies unit and one of the lessons that we were going to, and actually did learn the week of the walk, was the Civil Rights Movement as well as walking in unity.”

Gregory said the walk was designed as a meaningful way to connect classroom instruction with a shared community experience. She credited Brett Peterson’s leadership class for helping organize the event.

Students spent a week preparing. Gregory informed classes that participants would walk in unity, peace and love in honor of Black History Month. The route and timing followed the school’s annual Cancer Walk schedule held each October.

Gregory created many of the signs for the walk to focus on key figures in the Civil Rights Movement, including Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, John Lewis, Angela Davis and Ida B. Wells, whom Gregory described as an original pioneer of the movement. Signs also remembered victims such as the Birmingham Four and the three Freedom Rider students.

Two phrases, namely “We Shall Overcome” and “A Change is Gonna Come,” were included on banners to reflect themes associated with the era. Students in Martin Juarez’s English class, who are reading To Kill a Mockingbird, also made signs for the event.

Gregory created many of the signs for the walk to focus on key figures in the Civil Rights Movement, including Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, John Lewis, Angela Davis and Ida B. Wells, whom Gregory described as an original pioneer of the movement. Photo courtesy of Dixon High School

Gregory said the Selma march was a major inspiration.

According to Gregory, some community members mistakenly believed the walk was a protest or walkout, possibly related to immigration enforcement issues in other parts of the state.

“I was honestly disappointed in this accusation that this was what our walk was about, as nowhere in all the information that was provided to the community was there any indication of protesting or a walkout,” said Gregory.

Despite initial concerns, community members attended the event, with many choosing to walk or observe.

“On the day of our walk, we did have many community members come out and not only walk with us, but also observe, which in a way did bring us all together as a community,” said Gregory.

Gregory said experiential learning helps students gain a broader understanding of their lessons.

“When students are a part of their lessons in class on this scale, they come to it with a wider knowledge and understanding, making this a more meaningful experience,” said Gregory. “This may open more opportunities for students to not only maximize their learning, but also to exhibit their cultures, as well as other students’ cultures.”

One moment stood out to Gregory during the walk.

“There was one moment when a song came on that the students all knew and started singing out loud together, and all I could feel was that unity that was there in the 1960s was also there in 2026 with our community,” said Gregory. “I had goosebumps and a tear in my eye at that very moment because we were really living the moment and stepping into the shoes of those we learned about in class.”

Gregory said the school plans to hold the walk annually and thanked staff, district officials and local officers for supporting and ensuring the safety of participants.