Envsioning History: A Traveling Historical & Cultural Exhibition for At-Risk Youth

The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMCCV) is one of the oldest and largest museums in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This program will be administered through partnerships between the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, four community service institutions (the Friends Association, William Byrd Community House, St. Joseph's Villa, and the Boys & Girls Club), and juvenile detention facilities in Richmond and Henrico Counties. The goal of the proposed program is to make a traveling exhibition (a DVD entitled, 'Legacies of Virginia's African American Trailblazers') which will highlight the cultural and historical achievements of African-Americans in Virginia available to at-risk youth in middle schools and youthful offenders. The program involves a series of four outreach visits to each of the community group facilities and a session that the youth visit the Black History Museum to tour the in-house exhibitions. The program will provide 20-30 youth access to an expanded version of the Trailblazers exhibition and educational support to understand the context and importance of historical information through the series of the four outreach visits. Thus, the youth will be provided a framework for understanding their role and place in history. The program progress will be measured by the number of youth participating, appropriate museum behaviors in a supportive environment, self-esteem and awareness. NCA/NCF