Civil Rights & Local History Education
We believe that youth will be the leaders of a vibrant future. MCJC educational programming empowers young people from kindergarten through college and beyond to know the power of their voice. We connect history with the present to mobilize the next generation of community leaders.
MCJC local history education is oral history-based and civil rights-driven. History is a powerful tool for knowing where you are and what can be done. Through local civil rights history education, young people learn from the strength, resilience, and organizing strategies of people in their own communities. Oral histories introduce youth to their friends, family, and neighbors who have been making history in Chapel Hill and Carrboro for many years. Community mentors connect directly with students, a fusion of knowledge, expertise, and imagination.
In-Person Education Programs
Learning Across Generations K-12 Curriculum
Offered to K-12 classrooms in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Orange County, Durham and beyond, our Learning Across Generations educational curriculum consists of themed workshops and one unique multi-workshop series. All incorporate the stories of our Northside community elders, veterans of the civil rights movement. We want to bring Northside history to every classroom and to give every student the opportunity to visit Northside and learn first-hand about civil rights landmarks.
Community Mentor Team
The foundation for our youth and education work, our Community Mentor Team is composed of dedicated neighbors committed to expanding students’ educational opportunities. Mentors’ stories and neighborhood experiences have shaped our Learning Across Generations curriculum, and their physical presence enriches students’ learning experiences.
Sankofa Freedom School
The Sankofa Freedom School is a six-day, intergenerational local history program. Each summer, students age 14-19 learn about local Black activism and organizing history, strategy, and tactics. Inspired by Civil Rights-era Freedom Schools, Sankofa Freedom School is a collaboration between the Jackson Center, IFC for Social Service, and the Southern Vision Alliance, with a mission to mobilize the next generation of community leaders.
Online Education Resources
Learning Across Generations Online Curriculum
We developed Learning Across Generations Online as a free digital curriculum tailored for at-home learning. Learn about powerful civil rights and local histories of our community’s historically Black neighborhoods. All lessons incorporate the stories of our Northside community elders, veterans of the civil rights movement. The entire curriculum is free.
From the Rock Wall Oral History Collection
From the Rock Wall is an ongoing compilation of living histories of eight generations of Black Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Meet the people who built the stone walls that surround UNC, led movements for fair labor and housing across Chapel Hill/Carrboro, and fought for the freedom of all Black Americans. From the Rock Wall‘s 350+ oral history recordings and images are an invaluable resource for teachers developing lessons around local history and civil rights education.
Contact Aisha Booze-hall or Joshua Norrell with any questions about MCJC’s civil rights and local history education initiatives.