This episode is part of my Alabama Pilgrimage series, where I interview friends who traveled with me through the important sites of the Civil Rights Movement. Each episode, one pilgrim shares their memories and reflections from the trip, starting with myself. We hope you will enjoy listening to each of these stories. Today’s pilgrim is Rev. Dr. Tammy Rodman. Dr. Rodman attended Shaw University, got a BA in Psychology, and then went on to get a Doctorate of Ministry in Christian Education and Urban Ministries from United Theological Seminary. She is a trained community organizer and helps groups to mobilize and work towards sustainable models of operation. She has worked closely with DurhamCares, where she helped to direct and facilitate the Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope for almost four years. She currently serves at Reality Ministries where she works as volunteer coordinator and supervisor-mentor for Duke Divinity interns. Dr. Rodman is actually the catalyst for the podcast because on the last evening, she shared a vulnerable poem about her experiences of pain in walking through the Legacy Museum on the final day of the trip. Sharing pain helps release the person feeling pain from carrying that burden alone and gives us as listeners a rare gift – a chance to hold space for another’s pain and let its presence change the way you see the world. So often when people share pain centering on racism, listeners receive it as accusation and indictment, instead of an opportunity and a gift. How can we change if we don’t see pain? Before healing, pain’s presence must be known and shared. If you would like to learn more about the Alabama Pilgrimage, contact DurhamCares at durhamcares.org. And now onto our show. The music in this series is entitled Brothers and Sisters, by Alana Jordan on Pixabay.