The Center
What is the Center for Civil and Human Rights?
The Center for Civil and Human Rights will commemorate the groundbreaking contributions of Atlantans and Georgians to the historic struggle for African-American freedom and equality, and also serve as a space for ongoing dialogue, study, and contributions to the resolution of current and future freedom struggles of all people at the local, national and international level.
What is the relationship to other civil rights and historical institutions in the region?
The Center will serve as a catalyst for increasing interest in all historic sites across Atlanta and Georgia and a portal to all that the region has to offer visitors and scholars alike who seek the chance to learn from and experience history. We are helping to develop a linked offering across all institutions from the Atlanta University Center to the Carter Center including the Sweet Auburn Historic District. These links include transportation, programming, marketing, joint ticketing and research collaborations.
How will the Center contribute to the community?
The Center will serve as a forum for education and the exchange of ideas. The Center will provide jobs and internships for individuals and draw people to Atlanta. Programming will include speakers, forums, conferences and artistic presentations across a wide spectrum of historical and present-day issues. The Center will serve as a forum for education and exploration across all ages. The Center for Civil and Human Rights will also be a catalyst for drawing attention and visitors to the variety of historical institutions that exist across Atlanta including the historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Sweet Auburn Historic District, the King Center and Historic Site and the Carter Center.
How are civil rights leaders and the civil and human rights communities involved?
Several civil rights movement leaders and movement scholars were part of the Working Group including Evelyn Lowery, Connie Curry, Jesse Hill, Jr., Prof. Earl Lewis, Prof. Preston King and Dean Lawrence Carter. Prof. Earl Lewis, Prof. Cliff Kuhn of Georgia State and Prof. Darlene Clark-Hine of Northwestern University have agreed to co-chair the Content Committee. We anticipate other leaders and scholars to lead or participate in future committees and to continue to have a significant voice in the planning process.
Funding
What is the budget?
Considering existing museums of similar size and scope, it is estimated that in excess of $125 million will be required to build and open the Center. A $25 million endowment to support operations in envisioned as part of the $125 million budget.
How can I make a financial contribution?
Donations to the Center for Civil and Human Rights are tax-deductible and can be made through Capacity, Inc. for the Center. Donations can be also be made through our secure online donations page. For more information, write to more@cchrpartnership.org.
Location
Why will the Center for Civil and Human Rights be in Atlanta?
Atlanta and Georgia as a whole played a unique and principal leadership role in the modern civil rights movements. Atlanta was the meeting place for leaders and organizations from SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) to SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) to CORE (Congress of Racial Equality). The people, ideas and institutions in Atlanta and Georgia continue to influence and shape human rights efforts nationally and internationally. From women’s rights to gay rights to freedom movements across all of the continents, Atlanta is a key place for discussing these issues. Atlanta is one of only two cities in the world with two Nobel Peace Prize Winners: Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Jimmy Carter.
Where in the city will the Center be located?
The CCHR will be built as a part of Pemberton Place in downtown Atlanta. Pemberton Place is the home of the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca Cola and is adjacent to Centennial Park which commemorates Atlanta's hosting of the 1996 Olympic Games. The property is located at the corner of Ivan Allen Boulevard and Centennial Olympic Park drive and is approximately 2.5 acres.
What were the criteria for choosing the site?
The Working Group identified several criteria for a successful site. In descending order they are:
- Potential visitation traffic (both existing and projected)
- Acquisition cost effectiveness (in order to open the Center debt-free)
- Ability to develop the site in a timely fashion
- Ample physical space to accommodate the Center
- Access to transportation options including public transportation
- Potential to drive development of surrounding area
Content
Which stories will the Center include?
The Center for Civil and Human Rights will focus on the Atlanta and Georgia stories. Atlanta played and continues to play a central role in civil and human rights issues and will likely be the most talked about city in the Center, but stories from around Georgia are also an essential part of the Center. A narrative theme will provide the foundation for all presentations within the Center: the universal search for a secure human existence. Within that, three major topic areas will be thoroughly explored. The three topics are: history of civil and human rights; Atlanta and Georgia civil and human rights contributions; and the future of civil and human rights.
Will the public have an opportunity to provide input or contribute content?
Yes. The Partnership has created a plan to ensure that the public is provided multiple opportunities to offer input on content development and review the plan once it is presented. In addition, the public will be encouraged to consider donating relevant personal artifacts and/or contribute oral histories to the Center.