History
- In 2005, Mayor Shirley Franklin is approached by several Civil Rights Leaders including Ambassador Andrew Young, Representative John Lewis, and Mrs. Evelyn Lowery concerning their ideas about a Civil Rights Museum located here in Atlanta.
- Mayor contracts with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) through Central Atlanta Progress to conduct a benchmarking study concerning existing Civil Rights Museums.
- In December 2005 BCG shares results of the benchmarking study with 100 community leaders at the Carter Center.
- In February 2006 Mayor Shirley Franklin assembles the Working Group to look further into details of establishing a Civil Rights Center here in Atlanta, including developing the vision and scope of an Atlanta Based Center, identifying critical success factors and recommending guidelines for the Center.
- In December 2006 the Working group shares their results with the community. Read the Working Group Report here.
- In January 2007 the Atlanta Development Authority and Central Atlanta Progress form a partnership with Doug Shipman named Executive Director.
Unique Traits of the Center for Civil and Human Rights
There are many ways that the Center for Civil and Human Rights will represent a unique contribution to the world in terms of Civil and Human Rights. The experientially based Center will be rights focused; encompassing many types of human freedom struggles. The Center will highlight Atlanta and Georgia’s well known history and people, and will show how Atlanta and Georgia institutions and people have impacted the world, and fostered other movements and activities. The Center for Civil and Human Rights will be a world class institution engaging both national and international topics for educational and social impact purposes.
