June 19th 2023.
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has made a major announcement this Juneteenth: they are giving out $3.8 million in grants to protect and preserve 40 key African American history sites. This incredible effort is meant to ensure that all Americans can see themselves in these sites and recognize the legacy of African American heritage.
Brent Leggs, the executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, spoke about the importance of these places and their history. They represent the aspirations of generations for freedom, education, and community bonds, as well as a need for beauty.
The Action Fund, part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has been running for six years and has raised more than $95 million. This makes it the largest resource for preserving African American historic sites. The grants range from $50,000 to $150,000 and focus on four main categories: education and programming, project planning and development, building capital, and increasing organizational capacity.
One of the sites receiving grant funding is the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. Here, augmented reality will guide visitors along the trail and show them 3-D representations of people and places.
Elktonia Beach Heritage Park is another site that will receive grant funding. It was purchased in 1902 by formerly enslaved veteran Fred Carr, and it became a safe recreational area for Black beachgoers.
The University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin will use grant funding to inventory and preserve the sites of Alonzo Robinson Jr., the first registered Black architect in Wisconsin. His career spanned 40 years, and he designed a variety of civic, commercial, and residential buildings.
Other sites receiving grant funding include the Neosho Colored School, the Southgate Street School, the Nantucket African Meeting House, and the YMI Cultural Center. For the full list of sites, visit the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund website.
This is a remarkable effort to ensure that African American heritage is preserved and shared for generations to come. The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is allowing us to honor and recognize the legacy of African American history.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
