ATLANTA (AP) — A popular museum in Atlanta is expanding amid a critical moment in the U.S. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, privately funded, is set to reopen after a $60 million renovation on November 8. The new exhibits aim to transform it into a dynamic venue for education and activism, as expressed by Jill Savitt, the center’s President and CEO.
The renovation includes the addition of six galleries and interactive educational experiences designed to engage visitors in civil and human rights advocacy. Ahead of its reopening, the center has maintained its educational programs, including a comprehensive online resource for K-12 education and initiatives focused on diversity and inclusion.
Inspiring Change
First opened in 2014, the center, founded by civil rights leaders Evelyn Lowery and Andrew Young, seeks to inspire a new generation through programs like the “Change Agent Adventure.” This interactive experience encourages children under 12 to make pledges related to empathy, fairness, and justice. “Advocacy and change-making is contagious,” Savitt noted about the initiative.
Hope and History
The new exhibition “Broken Promises,” which opens in December, will explore the complex narrative of progress and backlash in American history, featuring significant artifacts from the civil rights era. Curator Kama Pierce emphasizes the importance of understanding these cycles as part of our collective history.
Fostering Democratic Participation
The center aims to foster an understanding of citizenship and democracy among visitors, highlighting the importance of every voice in a democratic society. Supported by philanthropic contributions from notable donors, the expansion of this center reflects a commitment to educating future generations about their role in a healthy democracy.
