This microgrant will provide the supplies for 22 college students to carry out building construction and restoration with the Freedom Foundation in Selma, Alabama. The Freedom Foundation, which works with local youth to develop art, culture, and dialogue skills, is renovating space which will host events where young people develop civic skills and address longstanding racial, education and community issues.
The need for the work of the civil rights movement, which galvanized young people, highlighted a non-violent approach to community work, and civic dialogue, is not over. There is a gulf between college student's awareness of social disparities in education and racial equality and their ability to become advocates for change. And, in a town where 30% of citizens live below the poverty line, there is need to work with local young people to support their education and sense of their potential.
This microproject will allow students to work on the restoration of the Tepper's Building, which is the future site of the Freedom Foundation's Youth Institute, Kingian Nonviolence training facility, and housing for future alternative breakers. The project will bring together college students from outside communities and young people within the community to build a space for activities, training, and dialogue which will powerfully impact all involved to reach their potential as active citizens.
The long-term impact of this project is a restored building with the help of college student volunteers adding temporary capacity to a permanent volunteer staff. This cycle will continue, as part of the use for this space will be to house future alternative break groups and other volunteers. The space will be worked on with these supplies until it is finished and becomes a gathering point for community gatherings and helping many reach their potential.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
