Highlander Research and Education Center, Educational center in New Market, Tennessee, United States.
The Highlander Research and Education Center is a learning facility on a 200-acre campus in Tennessee where groups and individuals gather to develop strategies for social change. The facility offers workshops, training sessions, and educational resources for community organizers focused on social justice and grassroots leadership development.
The center was founded in 1932 and served as a training ground for civil rights activists during the 1950s movement. Rosa Parks and members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee received instruction and support here for their work.
The center played a key role in transforming the gospel song 'We Shall Overcome' into a civil rights anthem through music director Zilphia Horton and folk singer Pete Seeger. The song was shaped here and then spread through churches and streets during protests.
The center is primarily accessible to organized groups and structured programs, so advance registration is necessary. It helps to check the website or call ahead to learn about available visiting times and what programs might be running.
The center received the War Resisters League Peace Award in 2019 for its enduring commitment to nonviolent social transformation. This recognition honors decades of work that has continuously focused on community empowerment.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
