Meaningful Travel Roadshow - Galveston
Education Program & Experiences
Education Program (8: 30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Location: Historic Galveston Water & Electric Light Community Center
Samuel Collins III, Juneteenth historian and past co‑chair, Juneteenth Legacy Project
Keynote:
Panel #1: Coastal Conservation & Climate Resilience
Galveston’s coastlines are at the heart of both community life and the visitor experience, yet they face urgent challenges from erosion, rising seas, and habitat loss. This panel will spotlight local leaders who are advancing solutions, from oyster reef and marsh restoration to accessible birding and sea turtle rehabilitation, and explore how the tourism industry can support and amplify these efforts. Together, they’ll discuss what meaningful partnerships look like and where the trade can plug in to build a more resilient future.
Speakers:
Moderator: Eowyn Johnson, Executive Director, Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council
Panelists:
Karla Klay, Founder and Executive Director, Artist Boat
Teresa Morris, Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research
Panel #2: Telling Local Stories: Culture, History, and Visitor Value
How can heritage be told with integrity and still deliver visitor value? This session explores why local history matters, what makes a story distinctly “Galveston,” and the checks that keep narratives accurate, inclusive, and community-owned. We will look at ways to co-create with culture bearers, including consent, credit, and fair compensation. The conversation closes with practical guidance for shaping stories into repeatable, trade-friendly experiences while preserving nuance, accessibility, and measurable impact.
Speakers:
Moderator: JR Shaw, Host, Galveston Unscripted
Panelists:
Alex Thomas, Director of Marketing & Outreach, NIA Cultural Center
Eric Broussard, Curator, The Bryan Museum
Off-site Experiences & Tours (1 - 4:30 p.m.)
As part of the Roadshow program, attendees will have the opportunity to step into Galveston’s living history through off-site experiences that highlight African-American history and environmental heritage. These tours go beyond the destination itself, offering replicable approaches that show how meaningful travel can create positive change anywhere
Experience 1: Birding, Beaches, and Biodiversity
Experience Galveston's unique natural landscape with the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council. Attendees will explore the 700-acre East End Lagoon Nature Park & Preserve, home to beaches, wetlands, and grasslands that attract more than 250 bird species year-round, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise along the Central Flyway. Limited binoculars will be available, but please bring your own if you choose!
Accessibility: The East End Lagoon nature path is a flat loop with a grass and dirt surface. Benches are available along the trail for resting as needed. Attendees will walk across a sandy lot to reach the entrance. If time allows and the group is interested, there will be an opportunity to visit the neighboring beach, which requires walking on sand.
Experience 2: Juneteenth and Beyond Tour
As the birthplace of Juneteenth, Galveston’s powerful stories and landmarks honor resilience, freedom, and cultural contributions that continue to shape the community today. Journey through the city’s African-American history with Dr. Araminto Coleman Sorrell, founder of Juneteenth and Beyond Tours. Stops include Reedy Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Nia Cultural Center and Absolute Equality Mural.
Accessibility: This tour will involve both driving and hop-on, hop-off stops with some walking. Some locations may include stairs, and chairs will be available for resting as needed..
