History tells the Civil Rights struggle through the lens of Selma, Alabama. Bloody Sunday, an event that galvanized a generation, provided the background for an interdisciplinary team of scholars, educators, local historians, and community members to focus on place-based learning experiences and explore civil rights education. The Selma event is viewed as an important vehicle for providing a broader context on freedom struggles as part of the global movement for human rights. Furthermore, cross-curricular approaches to professional development of educators provides a framework for mutual understanding and building global competencies. This article describes the significance of Selma as an example of the struggle for human rights, explains the development of a project related to historical research and understanding, and the methods to create culturally relevant curricula. We emphasize the importance of collaborative projects and the significance of interdisciplinary communities of practice that create mutual understanding and competencies. We believe that the professional development of educators can guide learners to become ethical, global citizens -- those who support human rights, such as equity and equality, not only in their own communities, but worldwide. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]