Working closely with The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, The African American Experience Fund makes grants for programs and projects that establish and enrich the connection that our children, our communities and all Americans have with their National Parks that honor African American history and culture.

African American Experience Fund of the National Park Foundation
Fall 2007 Grant Recipients

African Burial Ground National Monument, New York, New York:  Assistance with public outreach about the newest addition to the National Park System and the AAEF supported network of National Parks and Historic Sites.

Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana  Partnership for an Electronic Field Trip (EFT) to Central High School National Historic Site in Little Rock, Arkansas in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School for grades 7-12.  The curriculum based on-line interactive classroom educational activity is expected to reach over 23 million students in all 50 states and six countries abroad.  (www.bsu.edu/eft/)

Booker T. Washington National Monument, Hardy, Virginia:  Installation of the ACTIV Board System developed by seniors at Franklin County High School that provides interactive educational activities for classroom visitors to the Park. 

Boston African American National Historic Site, Boston, Massachusetts:  “Writing Race:  Memory and Imagination Readings by Four Boston Authors”, a series of four readings, and discussions  on historic challenges of race and inequity in the Greater Boston area featuring the work of four local authors at Abiel Smith School in collaboration with Partners for Community Change.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, Topeka, Kansas: The first phase of a program to increase student comprehension of the role of media in societal and political change by providing teacher training on the use of editorial cartoons for grades 7-12 in history, civics and political science to be followed by a district wide political cartoon contest.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Washington, DC:  Matching grant for support from the Washington Post and Principal Financial Group to support the conservations of the library collection at “Cedar Hill”, the last residence of the world renown civil rights activist and humanitarian

George Washington Carver National Monument, Diamond, Missouri:  “The Life and Times of Dr. George Washington Carver”, a two day event in fall 2008 that will explore the work and continuing influence of this world renowned scientist and educator.   

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, Atlanta, Georgia:  Production of mobile exhibits for use by local schools and organizations.

Natchez National Historical Park, Natchez, Mississippi:  Development of a strategic plan that will include a comprehensive interpretive component including the story of William Johnson a 19th century freed slave and successful ante-bellum entrepreneur.

New Orleans National Historical Park, New Orleans, Louisiana:  Providing additional support for the collaborative partnership with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation that offers intergenerational music education program to New Orleans musicians and music students.   This project continues work began with a Share the African American Experience grant. 

Nicodemus National Historic Site, Nicodemus, Kansas:  Production of mobile exhibits to enhance distance learning opportunities for grades 4-8 about the role of African Americans in the westward movement of the 19th century.

Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail:  “Voting:  The Hallmark of Democracy”, a collaborative program with Alabama Centre for Rural Enterprise (ACRE) to offer K-12 teacher training on the topic of voting rights and civic engagement. This project continues work began with a Share the African American Experience grant. 

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Tuskegee, Alabama:  Milton M. Hopkins, Jr. Meteorologist Program continues work introducing middle school students to the field of meteorology, a key component of the work of the Tuskegee Airmen began with a Share the African American Experience grant. 

Underground Railroad National Network to Freedom, Nationwide:  Underwriting the first national Underground Railroad Summit held in Georgetown, Kentucky to explore issues surrounding the research, preservation and interpretation of the history of the Underground Railroad.  This project was supported by a donor directed grant from the American Express Foundation.