Freedom Center and Ford Motor Company Fund Announces Programming Associated with “Men of Change” Exhibition

Contact: Will Jones
Marketing and Communications Manager
(513) 333-7558
(513) 802-7355
wjones@nurfc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CINCINNATI, OH. (August 16, 2019) – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center along with Ford Motor Company Fund announced programming in conjunction with the opening of “Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth.” exhibition from the Smithsonian, and Ford’s Men of Courage Cincinnati Barbershop Challenge. Programming begins Friday, August 16 and includes the Cincinnati Leadership Forum, the Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge and the Men of Change Curator Talk.

An intergenerational group of thirty-five Cincinnatians were invited to participate in the Cincinnati Leadership on Friday, August 16. The forum brought together African American men for a transformational experience that provided valuable information, networking and skills to help turn ideas into reality. The forum was led by nationally recognized leaders including Brand Camp University CEO and Founder, Hajj Flemings; Mobile Business School Founder, Walter Ward III and Chicago Bears and Leadership Development Facilitator of United Airlines, Jonathan Wilkins.

The Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge also kicked-off at Razor 1 Kutz and Precision Blendz. The shops are finalists in the Barbershop Challenge contest where in which the shops are competing over the next three months to win a $10,000 grant based on the shop’s implementation of initiatives and activities that educate and reinforce positive narratives around African American men. The Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge is an extension of Ford’s Men of Courage program – an initiative aimed at furthering the narrative of positive imagery and messaging around African American men. The challenge centers on a keystone in communities, the African American barbershop, and encourages shop owners to utilize their existing foundation for community conversation as a launch pad to turn those ideas into community outreach.

On Saturday, August 17 at 1:00 p.m. the public is invited to the “Men of Change” Curator Talk featuring the team behind the Smithsonian exhibition “Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth.” The discussion will be moderated by National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Deputy Director, Jacqueline K. Dace. Panelists include Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service Content Director S. Marquette Folley; WeShouldDoItAll Partner & Creative Director Jonathan Jackson and The Ohio State University Associate Professor of History Hasan Kwame Jeffries. The discussion is free with general admission.

“Men of Change” was created by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), and is made possible through the support of Ford Motor Company Fund. The exhibit highlights revolutionary men—including Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, W.E.B. Du Bois and Kendrick Lamar—whose journeys have altered the history and culture of the country through politics, sports, science, entertainment, business and religion. Each biography is paired with original artwork by a noted artist that accentuates the subjects’ individual legacies. The exhibition weaves a collective tapestry of what it is to be an African American man, past and present, and the legacy that only strengthens across generations. Participating artists include Nina Chanel Abney, Derrick Adams, Robert Pruitt, Tariku Shiferaw and Devan Shimoyama.

“As excitement builds for ‘Men of Change,’ we along with Ford Motor Company believe it is only appropriate to offer a variety of programs in which the perspective of the African American male can be told,” says National Underground Railroad Freedom Center President and COO, Dion Brown. “We thank the Ford Motor Company for their ongoing support to enhance the experience of this exhibit for our guests.”

“Each of these programs allow people to engage with Men of Change on so many levels,” says National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Deputy Director, Jacqueline Dace. “By continuing to understand the value of their relationship with the community, Ford Motor Company recognizes these interactive programs will help inspire more positive stories of African American men be shared to help eliminate misconceptions of their narrative.”

“We are excited to return to Cincinnati for a second time to launch a major exhibition and program", said Pamela Alexander, director of Community Development, Ford Motor Company Fund. “We are looking forward to sharing the MOC exhibit and the men of courage programs with the community.

“Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth.” opens to the public Saturday, August 17, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Tickets are $10 with general admission and $5 for members. For more information, visit freedomcenter.org.

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