National Underground Railroad Freedom Center extends closure through May 11
MEDIA CONTACT:
Cody Hefner, (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center extends closure through May 11
Freedom Center continues to follow guidance of Governor and health officials
CINCINNATI, OH (April 3, 2020) – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced today it is extending its temporary closure into May in accordance with guidance from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton. As the Freedom Center continues to closely monitor developments around COVID-19 to determine an appropriate date to reopen, it has increased its online learning offerings and virtual engagement.
“The health and safety of our guests and staff continue to be our top priority and we are taking the necessary steps to ensure the well-being of our community,” says Woody Keown, Jr., president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. “However, we will continue to fan the flame of freedom, creating champions of inclusive freedom in our global community as we recognize now, more than ever, that we are all in this together.”
While its staff works remotely, the Freedom Center continues to tap into their expertise and passion through online learning resources, blog posts and more. The Freedom Center’s End Slavery Now initiative is also continuing to provide resources in its ongoing effort to end human trafficking locally, nationally and globally.
The Freedom Center will continue to monitor developments around COVID-19 and follow the consultation of government and health officials to determine a prudent reopening date.
As a non-profit organization, the Freedom Center relies on ticket sales, education program fees, event sales and donations to operate. The closure will have a significant impact on its operating budget and the Freedom Center is encouraging its supporters to consider donating at this time as an investment in its mission.
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, more than 1.3 million people have visited its permanent and changing exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.
