Title
Resolution Approving the City of Hampton, Virginia's Participation in and Appropriation of the 2016 Open Grant Program through the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
This is the first time we have applied and received this grant. The organizing partners for this project include: Luci Cochran, Executive Director, Hampton History Museum; Linda Janet Holmes, M.P.A., lives in Hampton; Zachary D. McKiernan, Ph.D (recently left Hampton University for position in California).
The purpose of this project/grant is to raise the visibility of Virginia’s first sit-in demonstrations and to build a sustainable tradition around its history through public presentation, community conversations, oral histories, and continued scholarship. Through the prism of the F.W. Woolworth building located at 10-12 E. Queen Street in Hampton, Virginia, and the story of the student activist from Hampton Institute (now University) who challenged the color-line at the Woolworth’s lunch counter of February 10, 1960, the project will broaden our region’s understanding of and role in the modern civil rights movement. Project collaborators-sit-in veterans, artists, scholars, museum professionals, and students, to name a few-will spark a series actions, to include a public visual presentation of historic panels to mark the Woolworth building, community conversations concerning race and remembrance, collecting efforts to preserve the artifacts that illuminate this story, and oral histories with sit-in veterans. From these actions, the project is expected to be sustained through a small civil rights exhibit produced by the Hampton History Museum in the future, and possible research that digitally maps the impact of the Hampton students’ human rights movement in dismantling spatial/racial segregation-past and present-as well as an annual commemorative events on February 10.
The project outlined in this grant proposal directly links to mission of and vision of the Museum. At the Hampton History Museum, our mission is to build a better future by exploring and preserving our past. Our vision of the Museum is to be a catalyst for change and a powerful tool in building community. We believe “history is who we are and why we are the way we are…” We are moving the Hampton History Museum from a mid-sized local organization to a nationally-known cultural institution. It is the caliber and reach of the programs we present that will inspire interest on a nation-wide level. This endeavor has the ability to inspire interest at the national level. This project is critical to the Museum’s future and its ability to diversify its audience.
Discussion:
Benefit to the community - This project shares a part of Hampton’s history that is little known. The elements or actions described in this project including community conversations and oral histories, and commemorative art (being adjusted because of funding to a projection show)-are best described as deliberate efforts to do or make community history. The result of this type of work is to bring the community together to share stories and ideas. History is more than a list of names and dates and should include the stories of people living what most would consider “ordinary” lives and no longer be about nameless ranks marching through events set in motion by other people. Local people made history by being a part of the sit-in on February 10, 1960. Learning about this history as well as its implication on our lives now can be critical to tackling challenges we face today.
Financial implications/Costs to the City - This grant does require a match of funds. However, we more than meet the match in funds through the in-kind work done by our staff labor alone. Our staff labor for this project equals $9,080 which exceeds the necessary match by $3,080. The funding to underwrite the internal costs of staff labor and other miscellaneous expenses come out of the Hampton History Museum Budget and from a small gift from DHDP.
Funding Sources and Where Funds are Budgeted - Besides the grant from the VFH, we have also received a commitment from Downtown Hampton Development Partnership in the amount of $1,000 to support the commemorative art portion of the project - which would be displayed on the site of the original building within which the sit-in took place. The funding underwriting the internal costs of staff labor and other miscellaneous expenses come out of the Hampton History Museum Budget.
Impact:
This project directly relates to Council priorities of education and placemaking. The museum sees this type of project as our civic mission and the way we engage the community. This project is a perfect example of how we can involve citizens in their history in a relevant way. We believe the Hampton History Museum plays a crucial role in the idea of “place,” especially when this idea of place is so important in the economic revitalization of Hampton. Hampton must become a unique destination and that as a 400 year-old community, Hampton’s actions must be rooted in, and celebrate its history.
The oral history component will focus on celebrating those stories in each of us that illuminate who we are as a community. In doing so, we not only understand how people experienced particular events, but we also help build a larger understanding of how people create meaning and how people influence and are influenced by events. If you think about dates and names as the foundation of history, think of oral histories as the context. Capturing oral histories provides the context so we can make intellectual, emotional, and personal connections between historic events and decisions made by ordinary people, like you and me.
The community conversations involved in this project allow for important conversation to take place. Any community must often deal with difficult issues. The best decisions and actions in response to challenges are the result of our community coming together to learn and listen. Using history to help us understand “who we are and why we are the way we are…” creates a unique and positive framework in which to implement problem-solving conversations. Learning what others think about an issue can highlight where citizens share points of agreements, disagree and are left with questions and concerns. The conversations can help policy-makers form decisions.
We use history and past experiences to inform the conversation and also create a foundation of knowledge which allows everyone to begin to communicate - even when they interpretive history differently. Using history as a “case study” we can see what did and did not work when previous actions were taken. This can be done in an objective way - not for blaming but for building the best and most productive, action-oriented deliberation.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve.
Body
WHEREAS, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities has awarded a 2016 Grant to the City of Hampton in the amount of $6,000.00 with a local match required of $6,000.00 for a total grant amount of $12,000; and
WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia accepts and appropriates the 2016 Open Grant in the amount of $6,000.00, and any supplemental funding awarded in accordance with the grant agreement;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take the necessary steps to implement this grant award.