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#FreedomWalk2026 begins May 4!

You’re receiving this email because we have connected in the past, through my newsletter or blog, Coming to the Table (CTTT), an author event or training workshop, or you signed up at some point through my website. Due to the time commitment required for my work as Executive Director/Program Manager for CTTT (I retired last June), I have not sent out a newsletter since January 2020 and just posted my first blog (about the recent passing of my Gather at the Table co-author Sharon Morgan) since March 2023.

I’ll soon be writing regularly from the trail about #FreedomWalk2026 here on Substack. I’ll be participating in this modern-day Underground Railroad pilgrimage from Maryland to Canada beginning May 4 and culminating with crossing into Canada on July 1, which is Canada Day. We’ll conclude our walk in Toronto on July 4. I’ll share about the historic sites and people we visit, events we lead and participate in, photos of our pilgrimage, and more…

This pilgrimage feels particularly important in the divisive times in which we now live, times in which some people are trying to bury/hide aspects of our nation’s history they find unsavory or challenging to the concept of “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.” It is important that we understand ALL of our history so we can learn from the past and create a better future for all of us and for future generations.

This 750-mile pilgrimage, following 19th-century routes to freedom, will commemorate the brave self-liberators, the abolitionists, and their secret networks, during the once-in-our-lifetimes convergence of the 250^th anniversary of American Independence, the 20^th anniversary of the founding of Coming to the Table, AND the 30^th anniversary of historian Anthony Michael Cohen’s original 1996 walk of this route. The journey will draw upon the legacy and achievements of previous generations to galvanize modern activists to work toward truth-telling and transformation. We will travel by foot, boat and rail using modes of transport of the original freedom seekers.

Tony Cohen with Harriet Tubman statue (which will travel with us to Canada!)

Learn more about #FreedomWalk2026 HERE.

Now that I’ve retired from CTTT after 13 years, I’m committed to writing regularly again, with these posts and with the intention of writing/publishing more books.

PLEASE NOTE: I hope you’ll follow along by reading stories about our walk. Feel free to share these posts and invite others to subscribe. AND, if you don’t want to receive these Substack updates, simply click on the Unsubscribe button at the bottom of this message.

My best wishes to you… and may Truth, Freedom, Justice, Equality and Healing prevail. See you down the #FreedomWalk2026 trail!

Thomas N. DeWolf

Pilgrim/Walker, Author, Trainer, Public Speaker: www.tomdewolf.com