This week marks the launch of Charleston Civil Rights and Civics (C3), a five-day program to teach the untold civil rights history of the Lowcountry and to build bridges between students of diverse backgrounds.
The students will visit historic and consequential sites throughout the Lowcountry, including the International African American Museum, the Avery Research Center, the Penn Center, the Cecil Williams Museum, South Carolina State University, the Gibbes Museum, and the Charleston Board of Elections.
The students will hear from an array of speakers, including elected officials like Congressman Jim Clyburn, former State Senator Marlon Kimpson, State Representative Marvin Pendarvis, and Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg. In addition, they will hear from first hand witnesses of some of the most pivotal moments of the civil rights movement.
Art is also a key part of the program to help students understand the role of imagery in history, culture, and race in the civil rights movement of the past and present. Students are given polaroid cameras to document their experience and will work with photographer Joshua Parks to create their own self-portraits which will later be on display at the Gibbes Museum. Plus, Charleston’s former Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker will help the students capture their experience in a poetry workshop on the final day of the program.
“This week marks the culmination of months of planning and hundreds of conversation with community stakeholders,” said Leslie Skardon, C3's Founder. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this program to students on an annual basis and are excited for our scholars to learn new things and make new relationships. We couldn't do this without our incredible Advisory Committee who have been critical in helping us shape and refine this experience.”
C3's Advisory Committee includes:
- Dr. Tamara Butler, Executive Director, Avery Center of Research
- CJ Gathers, Women and Youth Programs Director, YWCA Greater Charleston
- Valerie Frazier, Director of the 1967 Legacy Program, College of Charleston
- Reverend Timothy N. Grant, M.TS., M. Div., Senior Pastor- Greater St. Peter's Church; Associate Dean/ Chief Diversity Officer, Charleston Southern University
- Dr. Robert Greene II, Assistant Professor of History, Claflin University and Lead Instructor for the Modjeska Simkins School of Human Rights
- Dr. Courtney Howard, Chief Diversity Officer, College of Charleston
- Reverend DeMett Jenkins, Lilly Director of Education and Engagement for Faith Based Communities, International African American Museum
- Chanel Leach, Special Assistant to the President and CEO, Coastal Community Foundation
- Reverend Dr. Marion Platt III, International African American Museum Faith Based Advisory Council
- Jordan Ragusa, Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Political Science, College of Charleston
- Dr. Joan Zaleski, Professor Emerita, Literacy Studies, Hofstra University
More information about the program can be found at: KidsonPoint.org/C3
