2013 Annual Report

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History 2013 Annual Report Table of Contents 3 Letter from the Chairperson & President 4 Underground No More: The Debut of The Struggle Against Slavery 5 Serve and Be Served: The Wright Museum Culture Corps 6 Highlights from the Past Year 14 Financial Activities 15 Museum Donors 18 Museum Partners 19 Board of Trustees & Executive Staff Letter from the Chairperson & President You’re a child who has spent your entire life in the city. On a tour of the museum with your classmates, you travel back to the dawn of civilization in Africa, cross the Atlantic Ocean to witness religious traditions in Brazil, and learn about ingenious scientific advances made by African Americans – and careers you might pursue today. Your world has been enlarged beyond your wildest imaginings, and now you think, “What if?” You’ve meant to visit The Wright Museum a thousand times, but for whatever reason just haven’t gotten around to it. Now you’re invited to an event that awakens and excites the senses, and surrounds you with the diversity of metropolitan Detroit all gathered in support of this important institution. It inspires you to finally bring your family to be welcomed within… You’re older now, and the history you grew up with comes alive again before your very eyes. More important, you see the manifestation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice,” and with the benefit of wisdom, better understand the reasons why… So begins our most recent fundraising appeal, and for good reason: these stories represent experiences engendered by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Where else can one travel from prehistoric Africa to the present, enjoy the beauty of art from around the world, be transported by the words and voices of writers and poets to places you’ve never visited, and follow ancestral pathways to freedom, all without ever leaving Detroit? The Wright Museum is where these journeys happen every day, for visitors from all walks of life – young and old, black and white, city resident and suburbanite. For many who have never ventured outside of the metropolitan region, especially children, these experiences empower their dreams and expand their worldviews. The museum has continued its never-ending quest for greatness over the past 12 months. Highlights include: • Partnering with more than 100 organizations including universities, cultural institutions, governmental bodies, and major media outlets to present over 200 public programs and events • Presenting 14 exhibitions including the museum’s latest long-term installation, Inspiring Minds: African Americans in Science and Technology, and the National Endowment for the Humanities-funded Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints: Popular Art of the Northeast of Brazil, which will tour the nation over the next five years • Hosting and participating in an array of education-focused efforts including NBC News’ Education Nation tour, Lawrence Technological University’s Robofest competition, and the Literacy: We Are The Change Summit Conference, which brought together leaders from business, education, government, and non-profit organizations to galvanize efforts towards eradicating illiteracy in the City of Detroit Whether it’s to Ghana, the Underground Railroad, or to witness the artistry of on-stage performances, experiences like these mirror the internal journeys we make as human beings, of, and to, understanding, compassion, and unity. Ultimately, this most important journey takes place within us all – from the mind, to the heart, and finally, the soul. The Wright Museum is where these journeys happen, and will continue to, as it heads towards its 50th anniversary in 2015, and beyond. On behalf of our Board of Trustees, staff, volunteers, and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who journey within the museum every year, we extend our sincere thanks and gratitude for your continued support. Very truly yours, Elizabeth (“Betty”) Brooks Juanita Moore Chairperson, Board of Trustees President & CEO 3 Underground No more: The Deib ut of The Struggle Against Slavery The American Civil War began in 1861. For more than a century prior to the direct conflict, enslaved Black people escaped and made the frightful journey out of the South, either on their own or with assistance of a network of sympathizers and the formerly enslaved. In commemoration of their bravery, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History proudly unveils the launch of The Struggle Against Slavery [www.UGRRonline.com], an online project that makes comprehensive information on the Underground Railroad more accessible than ever to children and adults. Created over three years with the collaborative effort of the museum, Eastern Michigan University’s School of Education, numerous Michigan-based scholars, and with backing from the U.S. Department of Education, The Struggle Against Slavery is truly a monumental effort. The website contains well-founded historical scholarship on the 19th century struggle for civil rights, using the Underground Railroad as a case study. It situates the American anti- slavery and abolitionist movement as an important precursor to later and continuing struggles for civil rights. The website tells the story of the people, places, organizations, communities, and events of the Underground Railroad era through encyclopedic entries, interactive maps, and video interviews of descendants of abolitionists and freedom seekers, with a focus on activities in Michigan and the Midwest. In addition to numerous iconic photos and artworks, many visual elements included in the project have rarely been seen. The Struggle Against Slavery is designed for audiences of all ages. Educational resources include K-12 lesson plans, classroom-ready PowerPoint presentations, and downloadable instructional materials that better facilitate classroom teaching. Interviews with historians provide analysis and insight into the people, places, and events of the time, including a complete online course consisting of 12 lectures by Dr. Roy Finkenbine, Professor of History at the University of Detroit-Mercy. Voices of the Civil War, The Wright Museum’s monthly retrospective video series, is integrated into The Struggle Against Slavery, providing for a more comprehensive resource. The Struggle Against Slavery was launched November 10, 2013, in tandem with The Underground Railroad and the Legacy of Black Resistance, an event featuring portions of PBS television’s The Abolitionists followed by a lecture by Mr. Hari Jones, Curator/Assistant Director of the National African American Civil War Museum of Washington, D.C., and a noted scholar and expert on the Underground Railroad who has appeared on C-SPAN, NPR, and other national media outlets. The Struggle Against Slavery website is located at www.UGRRonline.com. Visitor usage and ongoing feedback will help insure continued improvement to this important addition to The Wright Museum’s educational offerings. The Struggle Against Slavery is made possible by the United States Department of Education. Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle is made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. 4 Serve and Be Served: The Wright Museum Culture Corps By Gregory Lucas-Myers In 2009, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History partnered with JPMorgan Chase & Co. to create the Culture Corps internship program. The goal: to provide college students and recent graduates an opportunity for working world experience. Working as part-time interns, those accepted become integral to the museum’s day-to-day operations. Through the same everyday and extraordinary efforts full-time employees put into their work, Culture Corps interns gain real world experience that can be put toward pursuing any career. In addition, they receive guidance from a pool of professionals in the non-profit sector. Now in its fourth year, the program has seen its share of shining stars come and go. Leah Johnson and Tai Brown are just two. Both young women joined the museum in July 2011. Among their favorite memories, Leah cherishes having helped the Marketing & Communications department take part in the planning stages (not to mention being able to dress up for the event) of the successful Dance Theatre of Harlem: 40 Years of Firsts Gala, held in September 2011. Tai most enjoyed working with the children in workshops and the Inspiring Minds exhibit. Both Culture Corps alums felt a sense of growth from the program. “I came into Culture Corps as a communicator and enjoying people, in general,” says Leah, “And now, I feel more confident in working with anybody.” Tai quickly highlighted the importance of confidence. “When you’re able to feel like you can take the lead, and have less doubt in general, you can not only get more done, but are willing to ask more questions to learn what you don’t know.” Tai, who moved on to an internship at Rock Connections in January 2013, is now working full- time at Quicken Loans. Since leaving in June 2013, Leah and her friends have finalized the launch of their online-based Color Blind Magazine . She is also gearing up for a summer position at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Culture Corps recently welcomed a number of new interns, including Elysse Dowden, an Eastern Michigan University graduate with a degree in African American Studies; Lauren Hollier, a graduate from the School of Art & Design of the University of Michigan; Kenyatta Jones, a third year Elementary Education student from Wayne State University; and Eva McClenney, going into her senior year at the University of Michigan-Dearborn as a double major in Communications and English. Approximately six months prior to this group, Callan “Callie” Hoskins, a fine arts student from Wayne State, and Jessica Bickmann, an English and History graduate of Central Michigan University, joined the program.

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