ProjectANNOUNCING: THE SNCC LEGACY PROJECT
www.SNCCLegacyProject.org
As a the follow-up to our 50th Anniversary Conference, and your feedback about needed actions for the future, a SNCC Legacy Project (SLP) has been established. The purpose of the SLP is to organize strategic programs and activities that address those critical issues identified in your responses to the post-conference survey conducted last summer.
Over the past nine months, the SLP has been incorporated, secured tax exempt status and organized a 15-person board.
Our first educational project is about to bear fruit. We filmed and recorded every plenary and panel session at the 50th and a set of 38 DVDs (52 hours) has been produced. California Newsreel will handle their sales and distribution which should begin later this month. The DVDs can be purchased as either a complete set or individually. Money from sales will help provide revenue for the SLP programs.
At this point there are four SLP “working committees” that are in the process of designing programs, activities and materials in the following areas:
- The Archival Committee, that will seek out and
protectively archive as many historic documents, photos, memorabilia
and artifacts related to telling the story of SNCC and of the people
associated with SNCC as possible. Our goal is to make them
accessible for use by student activists, teachers, scholars, SNCC
folks, the children, grandchildren of SNCC folks and the general
public. Recognizing that many documents and memorabilia are
scattered in a variety of places, including folks’ attics and
basements, as well as museums, libraries or universities, the
project will also mount a program to digitize these collections
wherever they are found and make them accessible via a SNCC Legacy
Project “Virtual Museum” that will be accessible through a variety
of platforms that will enable individuals, institutions and
organizations throughout the world to research our legacy. Julian
Bond and Connie Curry are co-chairs.
- The New Works Committee, which is primarily concerned with
encouraging and assisting SNCC veterans and our to produce new works
about the movement, working individually or through a program
utilizing the critical oral history format for illuminating ideas
and themes that define SNCC and its work. This committee will also
develop a more traditional oral history project to collect SNCC
history. Additionally, the group will explore the prospect of
“visiting scholars” and “visiting professorships” at colleges and
universities being offered to SNCC veterans whose thinking are
essential to any real understanding of the movement but who are not
usually considered to be academics or scholars. Charlie Cobb and
Geri Augusto are co-chairs.
- The “Quality Public Education Civil Right” Committee. The
SLP considers education as a significant part of the unfinished
business of the freedom movement, and the continuing struggle for
quality public education part of SNCC’s legacy. This group’s efforts
will be anchored by the Algebra Project of Bob Moses and the Young
People’s Project that is a spinoff of the AP. It is co-chaired by
Bob and Maisha Moses.
- The Fundraising Committee which is responsible for seeking financial support to enable these programs and activities of the SLP to go forward. We are seeing seeking support from public and private sources including foundations, institutions, non-profits as well as individual donations. other budget off-setting sources that will support the programs and mission of the SNCC Legacy Project. Joyce Ladner is the Chair of the Fundraising Committee.
Of course we are at the very beginning stage of the SLP, so much can
change. We will keep SNCC people regularly informed of our progress and
our invitation to participate with ideas or work will remain open. Our
only expectation is your commitment to hard work
Courtland Cox, Chair
SNCC Legacy Project