The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced today that it has received a major grant from the New York City-based Skirball Foundation. The gift of $1,500,000 will support Freedom Center programs and exhibits and also support the Partnership for Human Freedom, an initiative to raise public awareness of slavery in the world today.

The museum’s third-floor changing exhibit space, totaling 3,000 square feet, will be permanently designated the “Jack H. Skirball Gallery,” in honor of Jack H. Skirball (1896-1985), an ordained rabbi turned award-winning Hollywood movie producer and distinguished philanthropist. A graduate of Cincinnati’s Hebrew Union College in 1921, Jack and his brother William established the Skirball Foundation in 1948. It has grown into a major philanthropic institution supporting education, culture, the arts, and other causes.

“This is a momentous day for the Freedom Center,” said Donald W. Murphy, CEO and President. “The Skirball Foundation’s extraordinary gift will enable the Freedom Center to create dynamic, relevant programming and new exhibits, many of which will be presented in the Jack H. Skirball Gallery.”

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The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will host a community forum, “A Faith & Culture Dialogue on BODIES…The Exhibition,” on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 6 p.m. in the Center’s Harriet Tubman Theater. Part two of the discussion will be held on Thursday, May 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cincinnati Museum Center.

The Forum will discuss issues that have arisen about the source of the bodies used in the blockbuster exhibit, “BODIES…The Exhibition,” currently on display at the Cincinnati Museum Center.

During the May 22 community forum, area faith leaders including Rabbi Gary Walter, Temple Sholom; Dr. Wenyi Wang, Falun Gong Faith and Fr. Robert Jack, will explore the rights and freedoms of the deceased and the issue of human rights. On May 29, Mr. James Jackson, Cincinnati Enquirer and Ms. Suzanne Costandi will discuss various community opinions on this issue.

The forums are designed to provide a “safe-house” environment for the public to discuss issues of human rights and science education. Small groups within the audiences will have the opportunity to dialogue with each other focusing on the question, “In what ways can I make a difference on the issue of exhibiting deceased human bodies, where the bodies are utilized with or without consent of the individual?”

Mr. Carl Westmoreland, Freedom Center Senior Advisor and Freedom Radio host, will moderate the discussions. Sponsors of the forums are the University of Cincinnati Just Community, Cincinnati MuseumCenter, Faith Community Alliance, Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Social Action Office, BRIDGES for a Just Community, Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, Japanese American Citizens League (Cincinnati Chapter) and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

If you can’t attend, you can listen to a live streaming broadcast starting at 6 p.m by clicking here. The events are free and open to the public. Parking is available for $5. For more information, please call 513.333.7518.

Welcome to the newly designed online home of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Thank you for visiting!

We invite you to browse the site, where you will find detailed information about our museum on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati (spring’s a great time to visit, by the way), as well as extensive historical background on the Underground Railroad itself. Also on the site is timely information about our education outreach programs, school and group tours, genealogy research and the growing global issue of modern-day slavery.

The design and functionality of the website is the result of a six month creative process of collaboration between the Nielsen Company and Electronic Art. Click here to read the news release.

Let us know what you think about the design and content of the website. And bookmark us, so you can re-visit here often.

The Freedom Center Website Team

Freedom Center Uses Wi Fi, Digital Media to Embrace New Audiences

Cincinnati, Ohio — The Global Citizen of the 21^st Century is likely to be a "digital native," born into and growing up in a technology-driven world. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, today’s 13 to18-year olds spend more than six hours each day using some form of digital media. Access to information is ubiquitous, giving greater importance to informal learning as a necessary supplement to school-based activities.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, today, placed itself at the center of this new learning ecology by launching a one-of-a-kind project that builds on the influence of technology in our lives. The "Digital Backpack Classroom," will allow visitors at the Freedom Center to embrace social networking technology, digital media production, and wireless computing in ways that empower them to create, distribute and access a shared vision for freedom.

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The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced today that Bruce S. Gordon, the former CEO of the NAACP, and Peter D. Kaufman, a prominent California business executive, have joined the Center’s Board of Directors.

"We are delighted that Mr. Gordon and Mr. Kaufman have agreed to join the Freedom Center Board," said Rev. Damon Lynch, Co-Chair of the Freedom Center Board. "We value the business perspective of each of these leaders who will strengthen an already distinguished board that contributes to the Center’s direction.

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The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced today that nationally-prominent evangelist Bishop T.D. Jakes from the Potter’s House has joined the Center’s Board of Directors.

Bishop T. D. Jakes, minister and host of The Potter’s Touch, a weekly program –has agreed to join the Freedom Center’s Board.

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