The Center’s LGBTQ Institute Executive Director, Ryan Roemerman on PRIDE Month
“Today, I had the opportunity to provide the keynote speech at the Georgia Diversity Council’s LGBTQ+ Unity Summit. This year’s theme was “Pride Unites: Reigniting Allyship through Unity, Equity and Inclusion” The event was hosted at Inspire Brands and included C-Suite and diversity, equity, and inclusion officers at various companies. My speech made several connections around allyship, the diversity of our movement, the importance of history, and the need for everyone to have access to it. It also focused on businesses and what they can do beyond pride month. As we move into pride celebrations, I am happy to share my speech with you. I hope that the words inspire you and that you have the opportunity to reflect and then take action to end racism and anti-LGBTQ hate.” Ryan Roemerman LGBTQ Institute Executive Director National Center for Civil and Human Rights _________________________________________________________________________ In the early hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn was raided by police. Police harassment was a common occurrence at gay clubs and patrons were fed up. On this night, police raided the New York City bar and harassed and assaulted some 200 queer folks. The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and police leading to six days of protests. Two trans women of color, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera helped lead a group of bold and brave queer people who together, changed history.[1] In 2016, President Obama designated the site of the uprising as a national monument. As a student of stonewall, this history-changing event serves as a reminder that the movement for equity for queer people and communities of color has always been intertwined and that the work is far from over. As Coretta Scott King said, “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation” If there was any doubt about this fact, look no further than the racist and anti-LGBTQ bills that have been introduced in state legislatures across this country. It is why celebrating pride is important–it helps pave the way for more people to see themselves in full color—to see that they are not alone. It’s why I want to talk about allyship, the diversity of our movement and the importance of history, and the need for everyone to have access to it. The visibility of LGBTQ people and the history that pride presents is a lifeline for many young people especially. Consequently, a growing number of LGBTQ people come out earlier. This year, a Gallup study found that “The proportion of U.S. adults who consider themselves to be LGBT has grown at a faster pace over the past year than in prior years… With one in 10 millennials and one in five Gen Z members identifying as LGBT.” There are still many young people, however, who are not out. For some, it would mean being ostracized, harassed, beaten, or sent into “conversion therapy”–an attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. From a very young age, many understand that who they are is not acceptable to their families or communities. I knew of no one in my childhood who thought being gay was okay. Not one. We place so much value, and rightly so, on the quality of the childhood experience. Our children are our future. When they are born they are helpless. We tend to them to make sure that they are well fed and cared for. And we teach them. We teach them to eat, to read, to love. And sometimes, we teach them to hate. They watch us. They listen to us. They listen to what we say and don’t say. We aren’t born knowing how to hate, we learn it. That is why we must not only teach people not to hate–by being mindful of and willing to explore and understand our own biases and beliefs, but we all must come out. Not just LGBTQ people. But our straight allies must come out as well. Our liberation is tied to each other and because of that, lifelong learning is required. Education is liberation. Understanding others, being willing to listen to someone else’s story, and meeting them where they allow you to welcome the stranger who can become a friend and ally. Reigniting allyship requires a willingness to understand and learn from others and their experiences. If education is liberation, then a key lesson is knowing your history. But even that is now being debated. We have seen this in the manufactured debate around critical race theory. CRT is taught in law schools and higher education courses and explores how racism has shaped public policy. It’s a theory that’s been around since the 70s. It’s not taught in K-12 schools. Nevertheless, according to reporting by ABC News, conservative activists and reporters began amplifying reports that it was being taught in K-12 schools. This was part of a larger effort with one of the leading activists detailing: “We will eventually turn it toxic, as we put all of the various cultural insanities under that brand category. The goal is to have the public read something crazy in the newspaper and immediately think ‘critical race theory.’” Many researchers say this effort to attack education on race and diversity has worked. We have all seen the waves of legislation and debate. Evidence that the term CRT had become toxic was seen in a Monmouth University survey in November 2021. They found only 43% of respondents supported CRT. But when respondents were asked if they supported the idea of education on race, 75% of respondents indicated they were in favor.[2] As one education historian said in Education Week, a k-12 education news journal, “The culture wars are always, at some level, battled out within schools..they’re talking in the language of school and school curriculum—That’s the vocabulary, but the actual grammar is anxiety about shifting social power relations.”[3] Our history is being held hostage by those clinging to power. The chaos these laws
A Statement From The Center on Recent Mass Shootings
Gun violence has once again rocked our country to its core. For the first time, the CDC says firearms were the leading cause of death for kids in 2020. Just this month, 19 elementary school students and two educators were killed in a mass shooting in Uvalde, TX. This follows acts of racist violence that killed and injured innocent people in Buffalo, New York and Laguna Woods, California. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those slain and injured. As a civil and human rights educational institution, The Center recommits itself to confronting hatred in all its forms and to promoting and protecting the dignity of all people, everywhere. Violence incited by hate and intolerance is a scourge in our society. Widespread gun violence is a human rights issue— that must be dealt with through sustained action. If you, or someone you know, has been affected by gun violence and needs assistance, you can access resources at Every Town Support Fund. If you, or someone you know has thoughts about self-harm or harming others, consider contacting The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or the The Center for Anxiety Disorders.
International Human Trafficking Institute Initiative Concludes with Success
Three-year campaign marshalled a coalition of businesses, government, and the public to disrupt sexual and labor exploitation across metro Atlanta April 18, 2022 (ATLANTA) The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (The Center) marks the end of the International Human Trafficking Institute (IHTI) with the completion of the initiative’s strategic period. IHTI was a successful three-year campaign, 2018 – 2021, to confront sexual and labor exploitation in metro Atlanta, Georgia, and beyond. Launched as Atlanta prepared to host the 2019 Super Bowl, IHTI successfully raised public awareness about how to disrupt systems that perpetuate trafficking and exploitation of persons for labor or sex. IHTI founder and lifelong civil-rights advocate, Deborah Richardson, established IHTI for The Center to raise awareness about trafficking in Atlanta just as the city would host the Super Bowl. The project finished its work in 2021 and has wrapped all outstanding projects. “IHTI made significant progress in addressing human trafficking in Atlanta,” said Jill Savitt, CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. “Deborah and her team organized and galvanized our community to address this scourge. They created a legacy that now continues through a range of organizations and leaders.” Starting in 2018, IHTI convened the Metropolitan Coalition to End Human Trafficking comprised of leaders from companies, government, educational institutions, civic organizations, non-profits, and philanthropy. The coalition became a united effort that educated the public about trafficking across metro Atlanta, strengthened the safety net for children at risk of trafficking, and disrupted the “demand side” of trafficking’s business model by focusing on the purchasers of sex from minors. Over the course of its three years, IHTI: Developed online and in-person trainings that reached 50,000 metro Atlantans to recognize and respond to signs of trafficking Raised awareness about the business of trafficking and how interrupting “demand” can be an effective trafficking reduction strategy Galvanized college students to help dismantle sexual exploitation These efforts inspired significant partnerships with Atlanta-based companies, most notably Georgia-Pacific. Georgia-Pacific supported IHTI’s work throughout its strategic period with philanthropic grants, the donation of MARTA campaign advertising space during the Super Bowl and event space for community convenings, and video production services for IHTI’s resources. Georgia-Pacific’s CEO, Christian Fischer, spearheaded trainings for company employees. In recognition of the company’s leadership, The Center awarded Georgia-Pacific its 2019 Power to Inspire Award, an annual prize that recognizes individuals and organizations that promote and protect human rights and dignity. After leading the successful campaign, Richardson left IHTI to become executive director of the ACLU of Colorado. The training work of IHTI, its signature program, will continue. With the sunsetting of IHTI, its former Director of Training, DeAndre’ Marshall, launched a consultancy to continue anti-trafficking trainings for the public, with a special focus on educating children, youth, and young adults throughout Georgia. Training information can be found here and on The Center’s website. About the National Center for Civil and Human Rights The Center, founded in 2014, is a museum and human rights educational institution located in Atlanta, GA, the cradle of civil rights. We create dynamic and empathy- building experiences, teach history’s connection to the present, generate brave and difficult conversations about necessary issues, and inspire the change-maker in each of us to promote civil and human rights in our communities and the world. The Center connects the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s to global human rights movements for the rights of people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and other marginalized groups. Through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative, the Campaign for Equal Dignity, mission-based Institutes, expansive educational offerings, and immersive and engaging storytelling we inspire each of us to reflect and think critically, exercise empathy in action, and create positive change locally and globally. For more information about The Center, visit our website at civilandhumanrights.org. Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – @ctr4chr, and LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncchr. Contact: Shani Drake Duncan, Director of Marketing & Public Engagement [email protected] James Richards, Communications Consultant [email protected]
NCCHR CEO, JILL SAVITT, ON THE CONCLUSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTITUTE
Dear Friends, Greetings from the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, where we have hosted the International Human Trafficking Institute (IHTI) since 2018. I write to share the news that the Center’s board of directors has made the decision to sunset the work of IHTI. Last year, the successful completion of IHTI’s three-year strategic plan coincided with the departure of the Institute’s irreplaceable founder, Deborah Richardson. (Atlanta’s loss was a gain for the ACLU of Colorado – and for advocacy of civil and human rights more broadly in our country.) We are enormously proud of the work Deborah launched and IHTI accomplished – especially the tremendous achievement of training of more than 50,000 people in our community to understand the warning signs of trafficking and how to respond. IHTI also galvanized a committed coalition of individuals and organizations who are active in the anti-trafficking field and provided invaluable public education to our wider community. A landscape analysis we conducted as part of our decision-making to close IHTI confirmed that a range of organizations are covering critical areas in the fight against trafficking – from direct service for survivors to advocacy and coalition building to public education. We are committed to furthering this work – and to maintaining the resources IHTI created over the past several years. To that end, we will continue to host information about human trafficking on the Center’s website – letting our community know where to find active organizations and resources. The webpage, available HERE will also acknowledges the generosity of IHTI’s donors and pay tribute to Deborah’s leadership. We are also pleased to share that a critical contribution of IHTI’s work – training — will continue. As IHTI closes its doors, our Director of Training, DeAndre’ Marshall will keep the work alive. DeAndre’ has launched a consultancy on human trafficking that will host the following conversations and trainings: Human Trafficking: Learn, See, Do Something Parents and Caregivers: What You Need to Know to Keep Youth Safe Online Critical Conversation about Safety for Children Critical Conversation for Young People DeAndre’ is offering these trainings to the general public, with a special focus on educating children, youth and young adults throughout Georgia about human trafficking and exploitation. For more information, you can reach out to DeAndre’ at 404-849-5735 or email her at: [email protected]. We will also feature DeAndre’s consultancy on our site as an ongoing resource. Thank you for your partnership and support of IHTI over the strategic period of its work. We were able to make enormous progress as a community. Even as there is much work still to be done, we are proud of IHTI’s contribution to the fight against human trafficking. With thanks and best wishes, Jill Savitt CEO and President, National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Environmental Justice: The Intersectionality of Race and Human Rights in the Movement
This April, The Center is excited to spotlight race and human rights in the environmental justice movement. More than a focus on clean air and water, or climate initiatives, environmental justice strives to create and maintain a healthy environment for all people, regardless of background. Advocates for ecological equality (as the field is also known) use a range of civic tools to achieve their goals including regulations and policy enforcement, and resolution planning that is inclusive of all audiences. For communities of color, environmental justice is a continuous struggle as statistics show that environmental hazards disproportionately impact minorities. Although the environmental equity movement has existed for more than 40 years, recently there has been a strong push to refocus efforts to improve conditions for at risk communities. Numerous crises continue to ravage low-income and minority areas around the nation. From the Flint, Michigan water crisis and Asthma Alley in the South Bronx to Cancer Alley in Louisiana, thousands of marginalized groups are experiencing adverse health effects due to a range of environmental ills that routinely plague low-income communities rather than wealthier areas: illegal dumping, chemical runoff, and other environmental pollutants. Consider this: Research shows that more than half of the people who live within 1.86 miles of toxic waste facilities in the United States are people of color. (Commission for Racial Justice) 2% of African American children and 4% of Mexican American children are poisoned by lead, compared with 2.3% of white children. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 3 out of 5 African Americans live in communities with uncontrolled toxic waste sites. (NCCJ) Whether by systemic design or institutional subconscious bias, decisions that result in the disproportionate exposure of minority and underprivileged groups to environmental hazards or health burdens is environmental racism. If left unchecked, the proportion of minorities affected by ecological injustice will continue to rise. Access to clean air, water, and a healthful environment are essential human rights. When specific marginalized groups are deprived of these fundamental rights, the offense is not just against these fundamental rights, but includes the abuse of discrimination as well. Although several environmental organizations bring awareness and action to climate and environmental pollutants, few address the intersectional connection between low-income and minority demographics and the environmental injustices that plague their communities. To achieve ecological justice, environmental organizations must be more inclusive in their policymaking. Rather than just providing a space for these issues, organizations must welcome, educate, empower, and support marginalized groups to address the problem. Inclusion of all people from all backgrounds in the work of environmental justice creates more diversity of thought, leads to greater innovation, and increases the capacity for change. The intersectionality of environmental justice and human rights is only the start of the discussion. These issues also intersect with healthcare, equal pay, and economic justice. However, the change starts with acknowledging the problem and collaborating with all stakeholders to break down and reimagine the system. Throughout the month, The Center will continue to highlight the challenges and triumphs of the environmental justice movement, and we invite you to join us on the journey!
IHG HOTELS & RESORTS SPONSORS FREE ADMISSION TO THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ON 3/26 IN HONOR OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
WHAT: In partnership with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, IHG Hotels & Resorts is providing free admission to The Center on March 26th in honor of Women’s History Month. The general public will have access to its powerful exhibits, such as Rolls Down Like Water and Spark of Conviction. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and must be reserved online here. WHY: For more than 30 years, IHG’s Americas headquarters has been based in Atlanta, a city with a profound legacy of civil rights. To promote equality for all and building on its diversity and inclusion initiatives, IHG’s broader partnership with The Center will help support the costs associated with making it accessible for the community. IHG has supported free admission days at The Center since 2020 looks forward to continuing this partnership. WHO: General public, including IHG colleagues and families WHEN: Saturday, March 26th (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET) WHERE: National Center for Civil and Human Rights, 100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 QUOTES: “The history we present connects with today’s movements for equity and justice for women and allows people to understand how they can tap their own power to change the world,” said Jill Savitt, President and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. “We are very grateful for IHG’s support as we commemorate and honor the vital roles women have played as civil and human rights defenders throughout history.” “Our partnership with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is one example of IHG’s commitment to providing True Hospitality for Good to our guests, hotels, owners, colleagues, and communities,” said Tamara Laster, VP of Global Sales Strategy, IHG Hotels & Resorts. “In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re delighted to provide free admission so our community can come together, celebrate, learn and be inspired by the Center’s impactful experiences.” COVID INFO: The Center continues to observe health and safety procedures to ensure visitors and staff remain safe amidst COVID-19. Currently, face coverings and masks are optional for visitors. Media Contacts: Shani Drake Duncan, Director of Marketing & Public Engagement, The Center: [email protected] James Richards, Communications Consultant, The Center: [email protected] Katie Shuford, Communications Manager, IHG Hotels & Resorts: [email protected] – About the National Center for Civil and Human Rights The Center, founded in 2014, is a museum and human rights educational institution located in Atlanta, GA, the cradle of civil rights. We create dynamic and empathy- building experiences, teach history’s connection to the present, generate brave and difficult conversations about necessary issues, and inspire the change-maker in each of us to promote civil and human rights in our communities and the world. The Center connects the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s to global human rights movements for the rights of people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and other marginalized groups. Through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative, the Campaign for Equal Dignity, mission-based Institutes, expansive educational offerings, and immersive and engaging storytelling we inspire each of us to reflect and think critically, exercise empathy in action, and create positive change locally and globally. For more information about The Center, visit our website at civilandhumanrights.org. Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram– @ctr4chr, and LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncchr. About IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good. With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programs, IHG has nearly 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline. Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo Premium: voco hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels Essentials: Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, avid hotels Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 325,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. ###
Injustice in Intersectionality: Women’s Suffrage Movement
It’s March, which means it is time to celebrate women and all the work that has been done to uplift women—from the past until today. When we look back at our history, however, we see those struggles were not immediately won. The road to equality and equity is long, and is paved with stories that have gone unacknowledged and untold. Ida B. Wells-Barnett, the journalist and activist who fought discrimination and injustice said, “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” This Women’s History Month I’d like to “turn the light of truth” upon a major landmark in Women’s History, the Women’s Suffrage Movement. This movement was the fight for women to have equal access to the ballot and the right to vote, which resulted in the passage of the 19th amendment, which states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” This amendment legally gave voting rights to all Americans regardless of gender, but that doesn’t tell the full story. When we think about the Women’s Suffrage Movement, we typically hear accolades for Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. We all too often do not learn about all the women who fought for the right to vote, or the women of color who were refused that right, after the 19th amendment was passed. Within all movements there are realities regarding intersectionality. Intersectionality, a concept developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, is “a lens, a prism, for seeing the way in which forms of inequality often operate together and exacerbate one another.” People are members of multiple communities based in class, race, gender, geography, and so much more—each giving us a piece of who we are. During the Women’s Suffrage Movement, the needs, and requests of women of color were often put aside as the movement focused on securing the right to vote for white women. For African American women, the realities of the Jim Crow South denied women the ability to exercise their civic duty and incurred violence for those who tried. Poll taxes and literacy tests were used to deter African Americans from casting their votes, and in some cases, African Americans were brutalized by law enforcement and arrested. Despite these terrors, African American women and other women of color persisted in fighting for the most fundamental of rights. Let’s “turn the light of truth upon them”: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was a famous poet, essayist, and abolitionist during times of enslavement until her passing in 1911. Harper spoke often about the need for black and white women to work together to achieve the goals of The Women’s Suffrage Movement. She famously confronted the white women of the movement during her speech at the 1866 National Women’s Rights Convention saying, “You white women speak here of rights, I speak of wrongs,” when considering the realities of the racial divides. Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee was a scholar and suffragist who fought for women’s voting rights and spoke of what it meant to be a true feminist. While Dr. Ping-Hua Lee fought for women’s right to vote in New York State (passed in 1917) and the federal legislation of the 19th amendment (passed in 1920), due to the Chinese Exclusion Act she was not allowed to right to vote until 1943. Similarly, Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin was the main women’s suffrage advocate and spokesperson for Native women in 1911, and one of the key leaders to meet with President Woodrow Wilson in 1914 about supporting women’s right to vote. However, it was not until 1924 that Indigenous people were granted U.S. Citizenship, due to passage of the Indian Citizenship Act, and Baldwin was able to cast her ballot. Zitkála-Šá, also known as Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, who served as the secretary of the Society of American Indians, was influential in securing this legislation. “The history of women’s suffrage in America is not nice or neat, because the impact of white supremacy is broad and human nature is messy,” wrote Tammy L. Brown, Associate Professor at Miami University, for the ACLU in 2018. “Furthermore, a nation built on stolen land from Native Americans and stolen labor from African slaves is flawed from the start. We must constantly acknowledge this truth and engage in an intersectional celebration of women’s rights activists and landmark events.” As we mark Women’s History Month 2022, let us acknowledge the stories that have gone untold, share the realities and continued struggles of rights continuously fought for, and praise the work of all the strong fearless women who have come before us. And when we say all, we mean all!
Six Leaders Join National Center for Civil and Human Rights Board of Directors
Experienced in government, nonprofit and corporate leadership, new members will help advance the Center’s mission and expansion strategy Feb. 17, 2022 (ATLANTA) – The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (The Center) today officially welcomed its new class of board of directors at The Center’s first board meeting of the year. The new directors will serve two three-year terms. The new members are: Jason Dozier, City Councilmember of District 4. The representative of District 4, the Center’s city council district, serves on the Center’s board. Jane C. Edmonds, Vice President for Programming and Community Outreach, Babson College; Founding Partner, Jane’s Way, LLC; based in Boston, MA August D. Hammonds, Partner, Ernst & Young; based in Atlanta, GA Brett Jewkes, Executive Vice President / Chief Brand and Communications Officer, BlankFamily of Businesses / AMB Sports & Entertainment; based in Atlanta, GA Michelle Moorehead, Vice President of Global Licensing and Retail, The Coca-ColaCompany; based in Atlanta, GA Craig Richey, Senior Managing Director, Accenture; based in Chicago, ILSelected after a months-long national process, the new board members bring extensive government, corporate, and nonprofit leadership experience to The Center. “We are so proud that The Center has attracted such incredible leaders from Atlanta and around the country to help us carry out our mission to promote rights and justice,” said the Hon. Shirley Franklin, The Center’s Board Chair. “Our new members will help The Center expand our programming and our campus into a national hub for education, training, and conversation that protects human dignity.” At the end of 2021, four board members rolled off the board, after serving two successive three-year terms: William Clarkson, Frank L. Sims, Michèle Taylor, and Brian Tolleson. “We’re excited to welcome our new board members and to thank our outgoing members for their service,” said Jill Savitt, The Center’s President and CEO. “The Center has benefited tremendously from their insights, guidance, and commitment.” Brief biographies of new members are below. Full biographies and photos for all Center board members can be accessed at civilandhumanrights.org/about-the-center. Jason Dozier represents District 4 on the Atlanta City Council. He is the director of program operations and evaluation at Hire Heroes USA, a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering U.S. military members, veterans, and military spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce. After graduating from Denison University with a degree in history and education, Jason joined the United States Army where he served as a reconnaissance officer in both Iraq and Afghanistan, earning both the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star. Jane C. Edmonds, a civil rights icon in the greater Boston area, has been laser focused on advancing equity and justice across decades of private, nonprofit, and public service. She serves at Babson College as Vice President for Programming and Community Outreach. She is also a founding partner of Jane’s Way, LLC, a diversity, equity and belonging (DEB) consultancy. Jane has held senior leadership roles in the Michael Dukakis and W. Mitt Romney gubernatorial administrations. August D. Hammonds is an audit partner in Ernst & Young’s Atlanta office, where she coordinates global services for SEC registrants, including the execution of integrated audits of the financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, coordinating services related to major transactions and periodic SEC filings. She has more than 20 years of experience providing professional services to public and private companies primarily in the consumer products & retail and building products industries. August is a member of the Lumbee American Indian Tribe of North Carolina. Brett Jewkes leads the development and execution of internal and external marketing communications strategies across the Blank Family of Businesses (BFOB) portfolio, which includes the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United of MLS, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, PGA Superstore, and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. As BFOB’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Brett provides strategic communications counsel to founder and chairman, Arthur M. Blank, CEO Steve Cannon, and the leaders of each business and the foundation. Michelle Moorehead, Vice President of Global licensing and Retail for The Coca-Cola Company, oversees world-wide licensed product sales, company owned retail (both stores and ecommerce), and the company’s World of Coca-Cola tourist attraction. Michelle previously held senior general management, marketing and strategy leadership roles at Reebok, Nike, and Target. She has also led client advisory work at McKinsey & Company and Forrester Research. Craig Richey, Senior Managing Director in Accenture’s Chicago office, leads the Strategy & Consulting business for the Midwest Market Unit, providing counsel to clients in finance, talent and human potential, supply chain and operations, customer sales and service, applied intelligence, and technology. Craig is also the executive sponsor for the company’s African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG). About The Center’s Nominating Process The Center’s Nominating Committee, led by board member Katie Fahs, undertakes an annual process each spring to assess the mix of skills and expertise needed for The Center to fulfill its mission and then solicits nominations for the next board class to meet those needs. Board members nominate individuals, and The Center also welcomes nominations from partner institutions. Current board members interview candidates and compile a slate that ensures the board has diverse voices. The board votes each December for a new class. The Center’s board members serve two three-year terms. About the National Center for Civil and Human Rights The Center, founded in 2014, is a museum and human rights educational institution located in Atlanta, GA, the birthplace of the civil rights movement. We create dynamic and empathy- building experiences, teach history’s connection to the present, generate brave and difficult conversations, and inspire the change-maker in each of us to promote civil and human rights in our communities and the world. The Center connects the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s to global human rights movements for the rights of people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and other marginalized groups. For more information about The Center, visit our website at civilandhumanrights.org. Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – @ctr4chr, and LinkedIn
Experience Black History Month at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Center launches multi-year initiative—Truth & Transformation: Confronting History to Create an Equitable Future; unveils programming through February with support from PNC Feb. 15, 2022 (ATLANTA) The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (The Center) celebrates Black History Month with virtual programs and activities for the entire family through February. Presenting sponsor PNC is partnering with The Center for a second consecutive year to support engaging programming that tells the story of the shining history of civil rights, and its ongoing relevance today. February also marks the beginning of The Center’s multi-year initiative “Truth & Transformation: Confronting the Past to Create an Equitable Future”, to raise awareness of historical events in Atlanta – painful chapters that happened in prominent places that have not been recognized or memorialized. The Center is particularly focused on two glaring omissions: convict leasing atrocities at the Chattahoochee Brick Factory and Bellwood Quarry, and the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre, where at least 25 African Americans were lynched over a four-day killing spree. The initiative plans an equity-focused, multi-stakeholder engagement effort to build a memorial about convict leasing at Atlanta’s newest and largest public green space, Bellwood Quarry. Convict leasing was a practice that government leaders and private businesses used after Emancipation to re-enslave black men and women, reinstating bondage for generations after the Civil War ended. “Confronting and sharing this suppressed history is essential to creating a more equitable future,” said Jill Savitt, The Center’s president and CEO. “Black History Month is the ideal moment to begin our Truth & Transformation work to engage folks to understand how we arrived at this moment of national discussion about race, equity, and justice, and share the information we need to move forward in a different way. We’re grateful to PNC for supporting this work and providing resources to increase access.” Upcoming Black History Month programming includes: February 15: The 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre & The Truth of History, a panel of experts and stakeholders will discuss the effort to raise awareness of this atrocity. Featuring Hank Klibanoff, director of the Georgia Civil Rights Cold Cases Project at Emory University; Marlon Burnley, associate artistic director, Out of Hand Theater, Equitable Dinners Playwright; and Ann Hill-Bond 1906 Atlanta Massacre Brownsville Committee Chair of The Fulton County Remembrance Coalition (FCRC). February 16: Children’s story time featuring “Justice Makes a Difference” read by author, professor and civil rights attorney Dr. Artika Tyner. February 20: Equitable Dinners and the Fulton County Remembrance Coalition (FCRC): “Stories from the Soil” inspired by the Equal Justice Initiative – a series of conversation dinner events remembering the lives of 36 documented victims of racial terror in Fulton County between 1889 – 1936. Stories from the Soil serves to create a narrative to counter that of white supremacy by identifying the humanity of the victims and the injustice imposed upon them. February 23: Truth & Transformation: Westside Atlanta and Public Memorialization – a panel of stakeholders explores the history of the Bellwood Quarry and Chattahoochee Brink Company, two sites that relied on convict leasing. The conversation will also explain the work that has been done in bringing the true history of these spaces to the public’s knowledge and the efforts to create a memorial to those forced into convict labor. For more information and to reserve your tickets, visit this link https://www.civilandhumanrights.org/buy-tickets/. About the National Center for Civil and Human Rights The Center, founded in 2014, is a museum and human rights educational institution located in Atlanta, GA, the cradle of civil rights. We create dynamic and empathy- building experiences, teach history’s connection to the present, generate brave and difficult conversations about necessary issues, and inspire the change-maker in each of us to promote civil and human rights in our communities and the world. The Center connects the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s to global human rights movements for the rights of people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and other marginalized groups. Through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative, the Campaign for Equal Dignity, mission-based Institutes, expansive educational offerings, and immersive and engaging storytelling we inspire each of us to reflect and think critically, exercise empathy in action, and create positive change locally and globally. For more information about The Center, visit our website at civilandhumanrights.org. Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – @ctr4chr, and LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncchr. Contact: Shani Drake, Director of Marketing & Public Engagement [email protected] James Richards, Communications Consultant [email protected]
A Note From The CEO—Black History Month 2022
Dear Friends: Atlanta has a shining history of civil rights. We tell that story in The Center and it is showcased all across our city with markers, murals, and memorials. As we mark Black History Month, we celebrate that history of bravery and resilience. This Black History Month we also want to highlight episodes of civil rights history that remain largely untold – painful chapters that are not taught in schools or recognized in our landscape. Confronting and sharing this suppressed history is essential to creating a future that is more equitable. If we do not understand how we arrive at this moment of national discussion about race, equity, and justice, we will not have the information we need to move forward in a different way. This month we will host programs on historical events in Atlanta—events that happened in prominent places—but are largely unknown. The downtown Five Points neighborhood is one example. In 1906, a mob of 5,000 white people began a massacre in Five Points. The mob murdered 25 Black people in a killing spree that lasted four days. That event is called the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre—and it wasn’t added to Georgia’s history curriculum until 2007, more than 100 years later. There is no memorial to the victims of this race massacre—and no explanation or recognition that this crime happened, even though the event shaped the future of Atlanta. Our February 15th program on the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre will share the history of that event, as well as ways individuals and groups can engage to share and discuss it. Another piece of hidden history happened at Bellwood Quarry—the centerpiece of the new Westside Reservoir Park. Press coverage about the new park touts the quarry’s amazing views and the fact that it will hold the city’s emergency drinking water. Less well known is that about 130 years ago, Bellwood Quarry was a convict labor camp where many newly freed Black men, women, and children were horribly mistreated and even worked to death. After the end of slavery, and in search of free or cheap labor, Southern business and government leaders colluded to arrest African Americans for bogus or petty crimes, and lease them to railways, mines, and plantations. This “slavery by another name” lasted for decades, affecting generations of Atlantans. On February 23rd, we will host a program about convict labor on the westside of Atlanta as well as our work with partners to create a memorial at the quarry to honor what happened there. All of this work is part of a project we call Truth and Transformation, an initiative to help our community engage critically and honestly with the truth of history. We hope you will join us for our Black History Month programs and become a part of this work. Best, Jill