FALL 2020
Unpacking Racism Cohort 4 | Freedom Award Tribute | Summer/Fall ‘20 Activities
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT We’ve reached the end of another year, and 2020 has certainly been one that we will never forget. Like you, the National Civil Rights Museum will close out this year having learned more than we ever imagined about our communities, our country and ourselves. We’ve become even more aware of the issues that our communities face daily, and as result, it’s made the case for why this Museum is still so relevant. Amidst a public health crisis, racial and economic strife, protests and social distancing, people desire to be both educated and inspired. They are searching for places and platforms where they can be heard and engaged, and we have been listening and becoming even more connected to these voices.
JIM KERAS SUBARU NAMES NCRM SHARE THE LOVE EVENT RECIPIENT The National Civil Rights Museum has been selected by Jim Keras Subaru Covington Pike and Jim Keras Subaru Hacks Cross, based in Memphis, as their hometown charity recipients of Subaru’s national Share the Love Event. For every auto purchase or lease $250 is donated to the Museum through January 4, 2021. Over the past 12 years, Subaru has donated more than $176 million to charities nationwide. “We are honored to be selected as Jim Keras Subaru’s recipient of choice for the Share the Love Event,” says Beverly Sakauye, Chief Development Officer. “The local community’s kindness will help us continue to carry out our mission nationwide.” For more information, visit www.subaru.com.
In this final 2020 issue, we showcase how we’ve put some of the lessons we’ve learned into action. From offering our stellar programming for adults and children to a broader audience online to revamping how we operate the Museum during the pandemic. This has been, in spite of the challenges, a pivotal year for the National Civil Rights Museum, made possible by your support and generosity that continues to pour in. We are taking these lessons into 2021 with an even greater purpose and mission. We look forward to the transformation we can spark together.
Terri Freeman President, National Civil Rights Museum
EVENTS KING DAY 2021-JANUARY 18, 2021
Due to the heightened COVID-19 pandemic, King Day will only be virtual. The National Civil Rights Museum will be closed to protect our our staff, supporters and guests. Online registration and event details forthcoming.
UNPACKING RACISM FOR ACTION EXPANDS NATIONWIDE Unpacking Racism for Action recently kicked off its fourth cohort and for the first time with national participants. The reputation of this program and the National Civil Rights Museum continues to grow. People outside of Greater Memphis have always wanted to participate but were unable to as it had only been offered as an in-person intensive. Due to the pandemic, the format was changed to virtual opening the door for wider participation. Over the 7-month period that started in November, the class meets monthly to explore the many ways racism can manifest with a focus on actionable steps toward healing and change. On the heels of racial unrest and protest across the country it is even more timely and necessary than before.
46 PARTICIPANTS FROM
TN, TX, NY, NJ, MN, KS, CO, WI, AR, CA, OR, MO, MS, IL AND CANADA
Veda Ajamu, Director of Community Engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives is excited to report that of the 46 participants, 14 are from states beyond Tennessee. The Museum also awarded six scholarships for interested participants to attend. “People want to have these sensitive conversations about race, and they are having more of a listening ear,” Ajamu says. “There’s more empathy and truly a wanting to understand.”
Learn more at civilrightsmuseum.org/unpacking-racism.
CIVIL RIGHTS RACE SERIES RUNS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARENESS, NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM BENEFITS The Civil Rights Race Series (CRRS), a walk/jog/run club that promotes healthy living, teamed up with black fitness organizations nationwide to bring awareness to police brutality and raise funds to help fight social injustices by logging one million miles in physical activity. National partners and supporters included the National Black Marathoners Association, GirlTrek and Black Men Run, Fleet Feet and others. “During these times of crisis, my partners and I agreed that we needed to do more to help show solidarity and encourage change,” says Raynard Lawler, Operations Director for the Civil Rights Race Series. Over 6,300 global and national participants logged over 300,000 miles. More than $200,000 was donated to the selected donor and partnering organizations, including $15,000 to the National Civil Rights Museum. “Supporting CRRS’ virtual platform of fitness and social justice was an easy decision for us,” says Faith Morris, NCRM Chief Marketing & External Affairs Officer. “Hopefully, everyone saw this as an opportunity to be fit and focused on making a meaningful difference in this nation and our communities.”
SUMMER/FALL 2020 AT A GLANCE Summer and Fall 2020 have proven to be full of learning, sharing and inspiration through our events and programming. Check out our activities.
June - Present
Transitioned Small but Mighty Storytime to virtual readings for children to reach a broader audience
2020 YEAR-IN-REVIEW 2020 has been challenging for us all, yet we have worked together to find creative and innovative ways to remain true to our mission and supporters who engage with us. Here’s our Year in Review that tells a story of perseverance, transformation and generosity. View here.
NCRM PROMOTES KEY STAFF MEMBERS
August - November
Jeanette O’Bryant Veda Ajamu Jeanette O’Bryant, has been promoted to Sr. Development Officer for Corporate & Foundation Relations. O’Bryant has been with the Museum for 13 years serving in many capacities from Volunteer Coordinator to Development Officer where she created the signature Night at the Lorraine event.
September
Veda Ajamu is now Director Community Engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives. Ajamu’s past role as Community Outreach Manager included overseeing our vanguard program, Unpacking Racism for Justice. She will continue to manage partnership opportunities as well as work on our corporate DE&I activities.
Launched Imagine An America, a social and digital campaign with a historical backdrop to show our progress in the journey to vote
Hosted Vanguard Book Talk with Martha Jones, author of How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted Equality for All Keepers of 306 hosted its second virtual town hall, Where Do We Go from Here? Economic Justice
October
Hosted The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show. View on PEACOCK where you can subscribe for free
DEcember
Hosted Virtual Freedom Award Tribute in lieu of the 2020 award ceremony journey through highlights of honorees, entertainment and emcees To view recordings of the above programs and events, please go to the website. www.civilrightsmuseum.org
SPECIAL TRIBUTES
July 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020
Birthday Celebration Of Amanda S. Williams Cassandra O’Connor In Memory Of Barbara L. Chaney AutoZone Preston Frazer Alicia Reid In Memory Of and In Honor Of Bettie Mae W. Evans Sarah Nickell In Memory Of and In Honor Of Betty Gilliam Jacquelyn Horton In Memory Of and In Honor Of Beverly J. Simpson Jennifer Erkulwater Birthday Celebration Of Brandon Cook Latasha Powells Birthday Celebration Of Brianca Climons Aaron Greene In Memory Of and In Honor Of Brumsic Brandon Jennifer Hobbs In Honor of Elizabeth Fields Alissa Heirigs To Honor the Work of Eva Lindsey Allison Thrash In Special Recognition of Gina Ligonde Gina Ligonde In Memory Of and In Honor Of Jack McNeil Sandra Henderson HilltopSecurities Inc In Memory Of and In Honor Of Jimmy Taylor Don Nielsen In Memory Of and In Honor Of John P. Matthews Jennifer Fox In Memory Of and In Honor Of John R. Lewis Stephen Bollinger Edward Burks Conscious Change Shop Lynn Crane Annjeanette Duncanson Sharondalyn DuPree Sarah Foltman Ann Getman Amy Gregord Anthony Kakis
Stephen MacNeil Lindsey Moore Christine Norton Tim Perkins Amy Reynolds Charles Rotenberg Donna Beth Joy Shapiro L. Shepard Jill Tani Leslie Virostek In Memory Of and In Honor Of Saint J. Lewis Collins Dillard In Memory Of John Siceloff Jill Rackmill Celebration in Honor of Josie Johnson Max Fallek To Honor the Work of Kaila Hearn Amanda Gentry Birthday Celebration Of Karen Mathis Janetta Cook To Honor the Work of Khenpo G. Rinpoche Loomis Chaffee Black Alumni Meditation Group In Memory Of and In Honor Of Lucille and D. Tennial Lisa Tennial To Honor the Work of Marcus M. Maples Leslie Yohey In Memory Of and In Honor Of Michael A. Gordon Brin and Dale Baucum In Support of Mikii Williams Jeff Grice In Memory Of Nathan Goto AutoZone Preston Frazer In Memory Of Richard & Ilana Ridner Marc Ridner & Younjee Kim In Support of Purposeful Choices Terri L. Freeman John Weinlein In Support of The Civil R. Museum! Roger W. Meier In Support of Unpacking Racism Serrie Fung
Thank you to our generous donors for these gifts received from
July 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020 CHAMPIONS FOR JUSTICE Foundation, Inc. Cathey Anderson Deborah Andrews Sumit Borah Abigail Borchert Emily Collins Tosha Downey Eggleston Art Foundation Lindsay Gabrielson Robert Groundwater Jacquelyn Horton Gregory Kaplan Jordan Lewis Eugene Martin Claudia L. Miller Matthew Moore Sharon Moore Jenny Norton Jill Rackmill Kara Sassone Allison Thrash Ella van Wyk Hazel Vann Jonathan Willis The Vendry
MEMBERS Gayle Anderson William T. Andrews Monica Bowden Beverly Bradshaw Charles Bruce James Corcoran Jennifer Dolgoff Henry Fields Matthew Gihio Greg Gold Kimberly R. Gordan Lynn H. Green Michael Greenfield Clarence Halmon Roslyn Hamilton Anita Harris Myrtle Johnson Tracye N. Jones Maureen Juodis Jo Kee Levi Kilgore Jeana Littrell Paula L. Martens Grace McGee Carmen Mele Ivan Moore Cliff Moses Eric Parks Vance Pitts Robin Reed Oran Rosario Brian K. Slaughter Amtul Sufi FedEx - Legal Department
BRICKS JEFF GRICE Tyler Griffin Gina Ligonde Latasha Powells Darren Rankins Powell Ropp Leslie Yohey Loomis Chaffee Black Alumni Meditation Group
GRANTS APPLE Inc. ArtsMemphis Christian Community
Marcus Mobley Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Links Foundation Crews Family Foundation FedEx Corporation Fidelity Charitable Trust Acton Family Giving Humanities Tennessee Shelby County Government Mayor’s Office State of Tennessee Stephanie McMahone Lavesquez and Paul Lavesquez Tennessee Arts Commission Tennessee Department of Revenue Unknown Federal Government ServiceMaster The Kresge Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation
ANNUAL FUND Allure Bridals, Inc. AmazonSmile Foundation Donation Disbursement Americans for the Arts Gayle Anderson Kaley Aposporos Appdynamics, LLC AT&T Employee Giving Campaign AutoZone Matching Gift AutoZone AutoZone Veda Ajamu Melissa Azzi Michael Balfour Shubho Banerjee Elizabeth Barnett Brin and Dale Baucum Benevity Community Impact Fund Anonymous Steven Baranski Toni Boland Joy Buggs Jereme Claussen Eric Crockett Dennis Donato Leah Eckelberger Latonya Foster Alena Heywood Johathan Hoole Katerine Ortman Dennis Oswalt Allen Schwen Michael Shelton-Montez Robert Stryker Christopher Zawistowski Nancy H. Bennett Wesley Binkley Stephen Bollinger BONFIRE SHIRT SALES Gregory Braxton Bright Funds Roy Cohen J. Kelly Ganjei Brondelyn McGee Sagi Nahum Edward Burks Captain & Co. Real Estate LLC Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Diane Ashley Bert Barnett
Cindy and Kevin Brewer Jon Brown Velvet Graham Faith Morris John Shehan Civil Rights Race Series Sherri Clark Pamela Z. Clary Emily Collins Combined Federal Campaign of Central Ohio and West Virginia Combined Federal Campaign of the Mid-South Cynthia Combs - Breidenbach Community Foundation of Louisville Conscious Change Shop Janetta Cook Lynn Crane CyberGrants LLC State Farm Marc Womack Jean Daugherty Rebecca Davidson Steven Davis David DelBrocco Collins Dillard Jeffrey J. Dugan Annjeanette Duncanson Sharondalyn DuPree EBAY Foundation Kelly R. and Zachary Ellis Amelia Ellison Jennifer Erkulwater Evolve Bank & Trust Amber Ezzell Facebook Payments Inc. Max Fallek Fidelity Charitable Trust Marc Rinder & Younjee Kim Henry Fields Ryan and Samantha Fisher Sarah Foltman Jennifer Fox Katherine N. Franklin Preston Frazer Debbie Freeman Frontstream Workplace Philanthropy Rose J. Flenorl Rita Fung Serrie Fung Lindsay Gabrielson Jennifer Ganzhorn John Garner Gartner, Inc. Dennis Donato Amanda Gentry Ann Getman Breanna Glass GlobalGiving Foundation Greater Horizons Linda Sutkin William Blair Company Matching Funds Aaron Greene Cara Greenstein Amy Gregord Osama H M Mary E. Hancock Michelle Harper & WHBQ FOX 13 Sharon D. & Jeffrey Harris Mike & Jenny Hartung Jeanne A. Heaton Wendy Heimann Alissa Heirigs Sandra Henderson
Herb & Shirley Hilliard HilltopSecurities Inc Jennifer Hobbs Bonnie S. Holmes Harry Hooper Ashley Howell L. Bernice Hughlett Rhonda H. Hunt IBM Infobase Holdings Inc. Lynnette Johnson Elisha T. Jones JONZEE Anthony Kakis Gregory Kaplan Thomas Kellogg Korones Family Foundation Karen Kubicina William Landers Dolores V. Leonard Connie Lewis Lensing Mae Lucas Andrea Lundy Macmillan Publishers Erin Coffey Stephen MacNeil Gabby Mateen Mary McConner Medtronic Matching Gift Program Marcie Dewalt Katina Hicks Leonid Litvak Beverly Scott Roger W. Meier Margaret Milligan Patricia Moody Lindsey Moore Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc. James Parriott and Diane Cary Faith Morris The NBK Foundation Noah Buffet-Kennedy National Civil Rights Museum Visitors Network For Good Anonymous Ethan Balavender David Beede Robin Comecki Sarah Crain Matt Dobberfuhl James Doty Hannah Evans Corrie Gardner Lori Gaspar Nicholas Gianforti Libby Klinner Kathleen MacFarlane Rajalique McCowin Cassandra Nostrant Amanda Peterson Katherine Rys Jason Sullivan Sherri Terrell Amanda Turner Rachel Vincent Phillips Williams Kelly Walters Next Gen Personal Finance Rita Fung Nextera Energy NEXUS Leaders Inc. Sarah Nickell Don Nielsen NIKE - Employee Matching Gift
Our work continues because of you and for you. civilrightsmuseum.org/give
Program Jereme Claussen James Cox Dennis Oswalt Scott Nivens Christine Norton The New York Community Trust Mary Edlow Colleen O’Brien Cassandra O’Connor Molly OGara Diane Ongaro PandA Foundation Greg Booker Pathfinder Communications, Inc. Tim Perkins Phil Wood & Company Stuart Polizzi Benjamin Prell Alfred Pursell Trevor Rau Raymond James Charitable Alicia Reid Renasant Bank Amy Reynolds Katie Ringenary William Robinson Gary Rogers Ellen Rolfes Cathy D. Ross Charles Rotenberg Bathsheba T. Sams Peter Sanders Kara Sassone Bernard Schaeffer David Schneiderman Mary Schroeder Schwab Charitable Fund Carol Lee and Joe Royer Donna Beth Joy Shapiro Michael Sheffield L. Shepard Slingshot Memphis Patricia R. Smith Frederick W. & Diane Smith and Family Graham Steele Amtul Sufi Jill Tani Lisa Tennial Thermo Fisher Umphrey’s McGee United Way of the Mid-South Amy & Bill Rhodes Susan Springfield Rebecca & Michael Ugwueke Leslie Virostek Brian Walton John Weinlein Juanita L. White Misty Rosser-White Ruby Williams, State Farm Agent Jonathan Willis YourCause Paying Agent for Corporate Giving Program Anonymous Timothy Berardinis Joy Buggs Marcie Dewalt Katina Hicks Winston Kelly Leonid Litvak Christopher Lowe Beverly Scott