The alabama african american civil rights heritage sites consortium (aaacrhsc) will expand its summer internships and youth leadership collaborative initiatives

The Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium (AAACRHSC) was awarded a $369,892 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program (CFDA 45.309). The grant will support the expansion of AAACRHSC's summer internship and youth leadership collaborative initiatives. AAACRHSC will work with regional high schools to recruit 30 high school interns in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma. Upon completing their internships, the interns will join the Gateway Youth Leadership Collaborative to research, write, and produce traveling museum exhibitions addressing civil rights history, including topics such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Selma and the Interstate Commerce Act of 1885 in Montgomery. The grant award has a performance period from July 1, 2024 to August 31, 2026.

Staff will work with regional high schools to recruit 30 high school interns in birmingham, montgomery, and selma. Upon completion of their internships, interns will be invited to join the gateway youth leadership collaborative and collaborate with staff and their fellow cohorts to research, write, and produce traveling museum exhibitions. The exhibitions will address civil rights history, include oral histories, and feature topics such as the voting rights act of 1965 in selma, and the interstate commerce act of 1885 in montgomery.