Visit Roxbury was founded on the premise that we learn more about other people when we know where they’re “coming from,” thereby bridging the “empathy” gap with first hand knowledge. Visit Roxbury’s resident guides have led thousands of visitors and hundreds of educators on two-hour tours, both on trolley and by foot. Along the route, participants are challenged to drop dated assumptions and stereotypes as they engage with the community and its residents.

Visitors explore a variety of sites and ask questions about their findings. Educators explore sites related to their teaching specialties, interview passersby, and link these interactions to their curricula. Additionally, both students and teachers participate in a facilitated discussion about their experiences as part of a communal process of discovery.