When my daughter Shalewa was four years old, I wished for her what any mother wishes for her child – that she have all the opportunities possible to grow up safely and securely, and become a responsible, caring, and accomplished adult. But that’s not all… I also wished for her to be as strong as Harriet Tubman, as conscientious as Sojourner Truth, as eloquent as Frederick Douglass, as idealistic as Abraham Lincoln, and as inspirational as Maya Angelou.
As Shalewa herself would attest, I had high hopes – and standards!
And we should! We should have high standards, the highest standards for our children, so that they may inherit their world with the strength and skills necessary to navigate life. But that means we must also provide them all the opportunities necessary to learn, to grow, to feel safe, and to feel whole.
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History helps serve this very special constituency in the community. Each and every month, thousands upon thousands of school children from across the region stream through our doors to bear witness to the breadth and depth of the African American experience.
From educational outreach and literacy programs, to health and wellness workshops, this museum performs a range of services and serves an array of purposes in the community. It’s not only a source of pride for our city and region, it helps inspire pride and understanding among our children, and will for generations to come. That is, perhaps, our most important work – to open minds and change lives.
We want every child to feel as strong as Joe Louis, as curious as George Washington Carver, as accomplished as Paul Robeson, as courageous as Rosa Parks, and as committed as Dr. Charles H. Wright.
The Wright Museum and its staff are committed to making these opportunities possible – and possibilities attainable – for all children. Whether you are a first-time visitor or long-time member, thank you for your continued support in helping The Wright Museum help every child to achieve their dreams.
WELCOME A-BOARD!
For our museum, a strong and committed board is vital to the institution’s success. We are pleased to welcome these newest members to our Board of Trustees: Pamela Alexander, director of community development and fund operations, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services; Rumia Ambrose-Burbank, president, VMS365; Tom Lewand, Sr., group executive for jobs and economic growth, City of Detroit; Suzanne Shank, president & CEO, Siebert Brandford Shank & Co.; and S. Gary Spicer, Sr., Law Offices of S. Gary Spicer, Sr. Given the esteemed group these new trustees are joining, we know the museum is in very good hands as we embark upon our 50th anniversary.
