"Footsteps" is designed to fulfill the mission of the April 4th Foundation, Inc. "Tell the Story, Pass it on." We share Dr. King's vision with high school students from area churches and they participate in the our "Footsteps Youth Leadership Summit on Civil Rights" sponsored by the April 4th Foundation.

In the past nine years, Footsteps participants have studied the events and the lives of Civil Rights Leaders and Organizations that were active in the 1968 Sanitation Strike. Participants have visited historic Mason Temple, the National Civil Rights Museum, and Slave Haven. The Memphis Redbirds held a special luncheon in their honor. They were welcomed at B. B. King's where they learned of Beale Street's heritage and the role it played in Dr. King's last march. Footsteps participants were also blessed with the opportunity to meet, experience and learn from living legends; Reverend Samuel Billy Kyles, who was standing on the balcony with Dr. King when he was assassinated; John T. Fisher, the organizer of the Memphis Cares rally; and Dr. Hattie Jackson the wife of Pastor H. Ralph Jackson and the author of, "65 Dark Days in 68." The students in 2010 visited Dr. Christine King Farris sister of the late Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. In 2011 they visited Dr. Joseph Lowery, in 2012 they went to Washington D.C. to visit the King Monument among other important sites, in 2013 the group went to Alabama for Civil Rights work and learning with Dr. Tonea Stewart, and in 2014 the group went to Mississippi including talks with James Meredith and James Charles Evers.

The initial class had 20 high school students, the second year that number doubled and the program has continued with strong participation since. All have been and are selected from area churches. Civil Rights orientation and most Memphis components are held at LeMoyne-Owen College.

The 2023 Footsteps Youth Leadership Summit on Civil Rights promises to be an exciting experience.

Registration and nominations for the 2023 class will begin May 1, 2023.