Join us for a special afternoon with Frank Williams, the former Chief Justice of the State of Rhode Island and Lincoln scholar, on Saturday October 15th at 1:00 pm. His lecture, “Abraham Lincoln & Ulysses S. Grant: Forging a Partnership in Battle,” will focus on the fact that neither President Lincoln nor General Grant was prepared to lead as commander-in-chief or general-in-chief at the beginning  of the Civil War, but that both had the character and ability to  learn and evolve in their respective roles.

He will discuss how their political courage saved their careers and their country; and, how each learned from the other, as well as from the bitter combat – political and military – that subsumed each leader.

For more information contact Jackie Wallace at 513.333.7586 or jwallace@nurfc.org

There is a spark within each of us, Fan the Flame.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has had a monumental impact throughout the world, for the past 100 years. The Pi Pi Chapter, at Northern Kentucky University, has dedicated much of our time to continue the legacy our founders established in 1911. The Freedom Walk is not just a “walk” to our chapter. We believe that participating in this event will uphold one of our five objectives, which is to “Inspire service in the public interest.”

We encourage anyone who is interested in helping the Freedom Center continue its legacy of inspiring African Americans and allowing all people to understand the significance of the Black Culture through awareness, education, and civic engagement. It is our sincerest hope that the Kappa Walk continues for years to come. It is up to you and our supporters to donate in order for the men of Kappa to continue this great event.

-Janol Vinson, Pi Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Northern Kentucky University

To donate to the Kappa Freedom Walk click here.

There is a spark within each of us, Fan the Flame.

Kappa Delta Chapter 2010-2011

The Kappa Delta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, at Miami University, is anxious to get underway with the 2^nd annual Kappa Alpha Psi Freedom Walk. The walk will take place October 8, 2011 starting in New Richmond, Ohio and wrapping up at the Freedom Center. We are excited to get back out there to raise funds and awareness for such a worthy cause and a true pillar of the community. After enduring the 40-mile trek last fall, there was never any question about continuing the walk again this year.

As Polemarch (President) of the Kappa Delta chapter, I have been working diligently to figure out a way to raise awareness for the event while keeping the walk intact with the roots it was founded upon. I believe we have done just that with the addition of several area undergraduate chapters and the increased support from our local alumni chapter as well! The Kappa Delta chapter is excited to be able to share with other brothers of this great fraternity, not only the feeling of giving back and helping a great cause, but the opportunity to educate themselves on the many injustices past and present that our people have overcame.

One of the major concepts that we want people to understand is the importance of donating to this great act of humanity and service. A key purpose of this walk is to raise money for the Freedom Center so that they can continue their mission and purpose on a day to day basis. While us walking will definitely raise awareness and draw media attention, it is the donors that are really making a difference and impact that allows this event to be a success. Please donate to this worthy cause!!

- Andre Rudolph, Polemarch of the Kappa Delta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Miami University

Today there are nearly three times as many enslaved people in the world today than there were in the Western Hemisphere when Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, an estimated 30 million.  Today, at the same time, the United States incarcerates far more people than any other nation, the vast majority of whom are people with dark skin.  What does “slavery” mean in light of these disturbing facts? How are these facts related historically and in our own time? What can ordinary people do to effectively combat these frightening trends?

Join us on Tuesday, October 4 at 6:00 p.m., as James Brewer Stewart,  James Wallace Professor Emeritus, Macalester College, lectures on “Abolishing Slavery in Lincoln’s Time and Ours: Creating a New Abolitionist Movement/ Confronting Modern Racial Injustice.” Dr. Stewart has published a dozen books and over 50 articles addressing slavery and its abolition in the history of the United States. Widely recognized for his excellence as a teacher, he is also Founder and Director of Historians Against Slavery, an organization of  over 400 scholars who work to combat slavery and racial injustice today by applying historical perspectives to our contemporary problems.

This lecture is FREE and open to the public.

There is a spark within each of us, Fan the Flame!

The men of the Kappa Delta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi are gearing up for the Second Annual Kappa Alpha Psi Freedom Walk on Saturday, October 8. This year the University of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky University, Wilberforce University, Central State University, and The Ohio State University chapters are participating in the walk with Miami University, and are competing to see who can raise the most funds.

25+ members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity will participate in the 20-mile Freedom Walk to support the Freedom Center. The Freedom Walk follows the prominent Underground Railroad to Civil Rights historic route from New Richmond, Ohio, traveled by enslaved individuals who sought freedom as well as those who fighting for integration and equality. The Freedom Walk will end at the Freedom Center followed by a Celebration recognizing the men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity for their philanthropic efforts.

“After being a part of last year’s Freedom Walk, I’m excited that it has grown this year. Now even more of us will recognize and honor the heroes of the Underground Railroad and the Civil Rights Movement creating an even greater awareness. We’re honored and excited to support the Freedom Center in its efforts to raise awareness of and inspire action on the continued struggles for freedom around the world,” said Andre Rudolph, President of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at Miami University. “Each Kappa Alpha Psi member from each of the chapters is asking for financial support in the amount of $1 per mile.”

The proceeds from the Freedom Walk will support the Freedom Center’s educational programs, including the wide array of exhibits that chronicle heroic stories of courage in the pursuit of freedom and thought-provoking programs beyond the Freedom Center’s physical walls that inspire individuals to champion freedom in their communities and end contemporary slavery.

“These young men represent a new generation who have, in remembrance of their ancestors, taken up the cause of civil and human rights in their own times,” said Kim Robinson, President & CEO for the Freedom Center. “The route they’re walking, in the footsteps of brave souls who’ve gone before, are representative of their commitment to today’s world-wide struggles for freedom.”

To donate to the Second Annual Freedom Walk click here.

There is a spark within each of us, Fan the Flame.

We’ve all heard the expression, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” The pen can indeed do a great many things in the hands of the right person, and the pen can do damage when it is found in the hands of the wrong person. The pen has seen its share of triumph and tragedy, mundane and extraordinary, oppression and freedom. The pen has been used to write love notes, scribble grocery lists, and even work crossword puzzles. The pen has been used to sign execution notices, inappropriate laws, and perpetrate evil. The pen has also been used to write, “Love thy neighbor”, “with malice toward none, with charity for all”, and “I have a dream.” But, the pen is only the instrument behind the hearts and minds of the individuals who use this tool to create history. One of those people is Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote the timeless classic, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and this weekend her legacy will be celebrated and explored during a conference in Cincinnati.  

Writing for Justice: The Origins and Legacy of Uncle Tom’s Cabin will take place beginning on Friday September 30 and run through Sunday October 2, and it will feature lectures and presentations by many local scholars who will explore the literary, legal, and historical contexts that surrounded Stowe during the 1830’s and 1840’s when she lived in Cincinnati. David Reynolds of the City University of New York, whose new book is titled, Mightier than the Sword: Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the Battle for America, will be giving a presentation at the Mercantile Library on Friday night. Reynolds is a Distinguished Professor of English and American Studies at CUNY, and he is also a Bancroft Prize historian and literary critic. Saturday night, a concert is scheduled at the Freedom Center that will include Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Family Band, Jacqueline Schwab, and the Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers. Ungar, Mason, and Schwab are perhaps best known for their Grammy winning musical accompaniment to the Ken Burns film, The Civil War. Sunday, visitors can tour the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and be one of the first people to view the brand new exhibits that have been installed there. You can find out more information about times and locations for each event of the conference by visiting the Harriet Beecher Stowe House web site at www.StoweHouseCincy.org 

There is a spark within each of us, Fan the Flame

Attention Educators! Come tour the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and experience how our educational programs can enhance your classroom on Wednesday, September 28 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. The Freedom Center brings the stories of the Underground Railroad to life for thousands of students each year. Programs include curriculum based tours that meet state and national standards, pre-visit, post visit and in-gallery lessons for students and teachers, and digital learning experiences.

A Freedom Center visit will unlock American history and excite your students for years to come.

SPACE IS LIMITED. Please contact Kieli Ferguson, Education Sales Manager, for more information and to reserve your spot today at: kferguson@nurfc.org or 513.333.7570

Thank you to our 2011 Schooled on Freedom Sponsors and Education Partners: The Ohio Lottery, Target, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Woodward Trust and the Charles H. Dater Foundation, U.S. Department of Education Underground Railroad Cultural and Educational Program, and Procter & Gamble

In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission everyday, Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket…for free.

On Saturday, September 24 the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will participate in Museum Day. From 11am until 5pm visitors will be able to present an official Museum Day ticket to gain free admission for two. Only one ticket per household will be accepted.

Official tickets can be found on the Museum Day website at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/. The Museum Day ticket is available on the Ticket Information page. Fill out the form and you will be emailed instructions to download and print your ticket.

We hope to see you at Museum Day!

**Please note: This is NOT a general free day. In order to receive free admission you must present a valid Museum Day ticket.

There is a spark within each of us. Fan the Flame.

Join Freedom Center staff August 5, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in a look into why Ohio was one of the most important and influential states during the American Civil War. The teacher institute will take an in-depth look at the important role that many Ohioans played in the bloodiest conflict in American history and how legacies of the Civil War still affect us today. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the new Civil War Encampment at the Freedom Center: True Freedom is Sparked by Campfires, visit the traveling exhibition Ohio & the Civil War: 150 Years Later and watch a riveting Civil War re-enactor.

The Freedom Center will also be joined by an outstanding panel of presenters:

• Dr. Eric Jackson from Northern Kentucky University will explore the historic significance of the region in the war
• Paul LaRue from Washington Court House High School will discuss work that he has lead in the Washington Court House area
• The Ohio Historical Society will present on how to use primary sources in the classroom
• Mark Kohan from the University of Cincinnati will explore how to turn the day’s presentation into an experiential learning activity for students

Lunch and Teacher Packets (including books, lessons plans, etc.) will be provided.

SPACE IS LIMITED. Please contact Richard Cooper, Interpretive Services Manager, for more information and to reserve your spot today at: rcooper@nurfc.org or 513.333.7594.

To download the flyer, click here: Civil War Teacher Institute.

There is a spark within each of us, Fan the Flame.

The Education Program is funded in part by: U.S. Department of Education and the Ohio Lottery

Yesterday, visitors at the NURFC were drawn to an amazing performance by “Risen” – a choir from California.  They are in Cincinnati as part of the 2011 North American Christian Convention (NACC), “Unleased: The Church Turning the World Upside Down.” The choir sang a variety of gospel songs – both upbeat and ballads. An a capella sub-set of “Risen” called “Harvest” also performed both classical and spiritual numbers.

Join us at the NURFC today at 11:30 a.m. for another performance by “Risen.”

There is a spark within each of us, Fan the Flame.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, in partnership with Bridges for a Just Community and the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, presents Prince Among Slaves. This unique documentary film tells the story of Abdul Rahman Sori, a young prince who falls from a life of power and privilege into enslavement in the American South. His story of courage and forbearance is a powerful drama that not only speaks directly to the African American experience, but also to the human experience. Following the film screening, a panel discussion will take place featuring Dr. Nikki Taylor and special guest Ilyasah Shabazz.

Ilyasah Al-Shabazz is an author, activist and lecturer dedicated to preserving the Shabazz Family legacy of service to humanity. Ms. Shabazz’s writing emphasizes the importance of promoting literacy among African American youth, a theme that plays a powerful role in the film Prince Among Slaves, and one that will help expand the Dialogues in the Humanities project to new audiences. She is an award-winning author of Growing Up X and the daughter of African American Muslim activist, thinker and civil rights leader Malcolm X. Growing Up X has won critical acclaim—including nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Literary Work, a United Press International book of the week, and a BET.com best book list.

Ms. Shabazz is also committed to developing educational programs that foster self-empowerment; expanding the role of government to teach individual responsibility for improving society; and capitalizing on the arts & entertainment to encourage the understanding of history, culture, and self- expression.  Ms. Shabazz produces The WAKE-UP Tour™, her exclusive youth empowerment program designed to inspire young people to think and act critically to safeguard their futures.  She is also corporation president and trustee of The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, Inc. at The Audubon—the place of her father’s martyrdom in 1965.

The film screening takes place on Saturday, July 9 at 1:00 p.m. at the Harriet Tubman Theater. The program is free and open to the public. To RSVP, call 513-333-7710.

Join us for a special performance at the NURFC by the “Risen” choir on Wednesday, July 6, and Thursday, July 7, at 11:30 a.m. The choir will sing a variety of gospel songs – both upbeat and ballads. An a capella sub-set of “Risen” called “Harvest” will also perform both classical and spiritual numbers.

The group of 35 is from California and they are in Cincinnati as part of the 2011 North American Christian Convention (NACC), “Unleased: The Church Turning the World Upside Down.” The Freedom Center is pleased to welcome “Risen” and all of our NACC guests who are visiting the Greater Cincinnati area this week. The music of “Risen” is certainly in keeping with the historical role that music played in the lives of the enslaved seeking freedom; and, with the role that faith played in those courageous men and women who sought to help in their escape along the Underground Railroad.