The African American Experience Fund

Established in 2001, the Washington, D.C.-based African American Experience Fund (AAEF) is the only national fundraising organization of the congressionally chartered, National Park Foundation that supports and preserves African American history found in our National Parks. The 24 National Parks and the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom supported by AAEF are just a few of the special places in the National Park System that tell the stories of African Americans throughout the history of our country. Download the AAEF Fact Sheet for more information.

The mission of the African American Experience Fund is to preserve African American history by supporting programs in National Parks that celebrate and preserve African American history. By raising awareness of African American history in the National Parks, AAEF seeks to ensure that our whole national story is passed on faithfully, completely and accurately.

We invite people from all walks of life to experience our National Parks. They are an excellent supplement to the classroom experience and offer exciting and innovative ways to gain meaningful hands-on experience in a wide range of subject matters.

African American Experience Fund, Executive Director Lydia Sermons, photo & bio.

African American Experience Fund Trustees

Julia M. Brown
Senior Vice President
Global Procurement
Kraft Foods, Inc.
Northfield, IL

Maurice Daniel
Managing Director
Integrated Capital Strategies, LLC
Charlotte, NC

Sylvester C. Formey
President/CEO
Vanguard International, LLC
Savannah, GA

Tom Goss
Chairman
Goss, LLC,
Detroit, Michigan

Ernest Green
(Little Rock Nine)
Co-Chairman & Partner
Madison Global Group, LLC
Washington, DC

Carole Hall, AAEF Chair
Publishing Consultant
Stamford, Connecticut

William Harper
Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer
PG&E Corporation
San Francisco, California

Robert Harris
(Retired)
Vice President of Environmental Affairs PG&E Corporation
San Francisco, California

Craig Kirby
Managing Director
Savannah LLC
Washington, DC

Quinton R. Martin
Vice President
The Coca Cola Company
Atlanta, Georgia

Harriet Michel
Immediate past President
National Minority Supplier Development Council, New York, New York

Michael B. Moore
President & CEO
Glory Foods
Columbus, OH

Hilda Pinnix-Ragland
Vice President, Corporate Public Affairs, Progress Energy
Raleigh, NC

R. Lucia Riddle
Vice President, Government Relations
Principal Financial Group
Washington, DC

Alana Ward Robinson
Managing Principal
Robinson Group Holdings LLC
Chicago, Illinois

Rodney Slater
Partner
Patton Boggs, LLP
Washington, DC

Rutledge Simmons
Deputy General Counsel
NeighborWorks America
Washington, DC

Robert Stanton,
Chairman Emeritus
Retired Director
National Park Service
Washington, DC

Benjamin F. Wilson
Managing Principal
Beveridge &' Diamond
Washington, DC

Nicodemus National
Historic Site

Share Your AAEF Memory!

Submit a photo and
description of your
AAEF experience.