During a month when school children across the country are learning about prominent African Americans, YNN's Erin Clarke tells us legislators are working to make sure a Central New York city with ties to the Underground Railroad gets national recognition.

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AUBURN, N.Y. -- Seward Elementary School students took a Ride with Rosa.

"Today we rode the bus in honor of Rosa Parks and we watched a movie about her and read a book about her," said Seward Elementary School teacher Michael Diehl.

The short tour around Auburn was part of an interactive lesson teaching students about the civil rights activist, who was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger and move to the back of a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955.

Educators say Parks' story also illustrates another issue students deal with today.

"Kids and adults are bullied all over, in schools, everywhere and we need to show people that this is a serious situation," said Diehl.

While students Friday are learning about one prominent figure in African American history, legislators are working to preserve and get national recognition for the former home of another.

Congressman Richard Hanna is sponsoring a bill that would create the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn. That legislation is set to be introduced next week.

The Riding with Rosa event kicked off Centro's celebration of Parks, whose birthday is February 4th. On that day, Centro riders are encouraged to reserve a seat in her honor. Commemorative posters and stickers will also be placed near a seat behind the bus driver on Central New York buses.