Civil Rights Act 50th Anniversary

Vision
This powerful event was designed to use the civil rights movement as a model to raise  awareness of the agency and power that we have to create individual and societal change.  Through the vehicle of schools, libraries and universities, the Empowering Change events activated the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act Exhibit at Library of Congress, and used it as a portal to inspire thoughtful action and dialogue around Civil Rights yesterday, today, and moving forward.  The initial program, held in Hartford, CT  was made possible by Newman’s Own Foundation as a pilot program to be replicated and scaled on campuses across the country.  

Action
The 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act:  Empowering Change, developed programs through campus activity groups, leadership programs, faculty and administration. Programs, activities and learning opportunities addressed the history of civil rights, how the campus is educating students with an awareness of issues today, and how to help students understand their own power to affect change through education, words and action.

Impact
Inspired campus leaders to understand the potential of creating initiatives that  use a campus and community- wide initiative to build social capital and increase collective impact.  Programs and events were designed to leverage the importance of the Civil Rights movement as a model  to inspire moral courage and participatory democracy to create societal change.