The International African American Museum (IAAM) has received a $200,000 gift for education and programming from TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, to sponsor the TD Bank Program Series at the museum. TD Bank’s third gift to the IAAM is a donation total of $700,000, following its initial gift of $250,000 as a founding donor in 2016.
Paige Carlson-Heim, Head of U.S. Social Impact at TD Bank, expressed that uplifting the voices of the African American community and sharing its rich history of contributions, culture, and resilience is critical to creating a more inclusive and equitable future.
“TD is incredibly proud of our ongoing commitment and investment in the International African American Museum,” said Carlson-Heim. “The TD Bank Program Series provides an opportunity for visitors of all ages to engage in interactive learning experiences about the African diaspora through musical celebration, cultural performances, poetry readings, and impactful dialogue, to name a few. We hope it not only presents a culturally rich space for the often untold and silenced stories of the African American community to be heard, but that it also empowers future generations of civil and human rights leaders."
“The TD Bank Series at IAAM is an eclectic and carefully curated body of programming designed to reach visitors of all backgrounds,” said Malika Pryor, IAAM’s Chief Learning and Engagement Officer. “For museums, where content is sometimes seen as complex or too lofty, programs are like open doors and front porches. They beckon and they welcome. They encourage us to make our way in and to sit and talk for a while. They offer us the opportunity to engage in spaces that are often unseen or seem inaccessible and permit us to look out and into the world with a more understanding and empathetic lens."
“We get to be neighbors sitting side by side -- enjoying or discovering something together,” Pryor said. “We walk away knowing a little more about a topic, a little more about African and African diasporic cultures – we are permitted to let down the guardrails that prevent us from discovering and in turn, learn something new about ourselves. That is the beauty of history and culture -- no matter who it is. Love, struggle, triumph are human experiences, and it is critical that we see this reflected in each of us so we can recognize humanity in all of us.”
The programs in the TD Bank series run from January through summer this year and include:
On January 1, 2025, following the annual Charleston Emancipation Day Parade, IAAM hosted the Emancipation Day Parade and Program: Onward from Freedom's Eve at the Museum. The program featured stirring musical performances, an exploration of the historical context and impact of emancipation, and a ceremonial reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. Over 160 community members joined in the festivities, and 150 attended the worship service with keynote speaker Reverend Howard John Wesley, pastor of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, VA.
IAAM King: A Day of Service was hosted on January 20, 2025, with educational, interactive programming and free admission. More than 1,465 attendees enjoyed an exciting lineup of captivating performances, starting with the talented DJ Rubin, The Center for Learning Inc.’s Youth Choir, and Tia Durant, the Princess of Soul. Guests explored local vendors displaying unique crafts while food trucks offered a delicious variety. The outdoor Gardens buzzed with activity as families participated in youth-friendly events, fostering a powerful sense of community.
Black History Month Programming for February 2025:
Thursday, February 13, 2025: Join us for The Spirit of Sankofa | The evening will feature South Carolina native Sandhi Santini’s EARTHA – From Cotton to Caviar. This powerful one-woman show takes us through the legacy of Eartha Kitt’s life, struggles, and triumphs. Kitt’s journey from a South Carolina cotton field to international stardom was marked by courage, resilience, and a fierce commitment to social justice, becoming an outspoken advocate for civil rights. [SOLD OUT!]
Saturday, February 15, 2025: Join us for a Poetry Writing & Performance Workshop from Former Charleston Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker. He will also serve as Griot (storyteller) for the evening, weaving in poetic reflections between performances to deepen the evening’s themes of resistance, resilience, and the ongoing fight for civil rights. Tickets are available here.
Friday, February 28, 2025: Join us for An Architect & An Engineer | Shaping Black Heritage Through Memory & Landscape with Walter Hood and Dr. Tonya Matthews. Renowned architect Walter Hood and IAAM President & CEO Dr. Tonya Matthews will explore memory, heritage, and space in preserving Black landscapes. Hood will present his new book, “The African Ancestors Garden: History and Memory, at the International African American Museum,” focusing on design and preservation in African American history. This moderated dialogue will examine how architecture and engineering can honor and reinterpret Black legacies. Register here!
(May – July 2025): Wisdom & Wordsmiths | Youth Summer Author Talk Series
Join us for an exciting summer reading series for young readers, offering engaging activities and enriching dialogue. This series will take place on May 31st for Elementary School students, June 28th for Middle School students, and July 26th for High School students.
We are thrilled to partner with Turning Page Bookstore, a proud African American-owned business, to create a vibrant and inclusive reading experience. Together with our K-12 education partners from the Tri-County area, we aim to celebrate and highlight African American history and culture. In collaboration with the Charleston County Library and other resolute partners, we will provide a variety of resources and activities that encourage learning and discussion.
