ATLANTA – The Student Conservation Association (SCA) today announced that the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund awarded the organization $100,000 to preserve the oral history of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta as part of their Preserving Black Churches initiative.
Ebenezer Baptist Church, located in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood, was constructed in 1922. It is the church where Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was baptized as a child and later became a prominent preacher. The church also hosted meetings that led to the formation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957.
“These sacred spaces are pillars of American history, serving as centers for faith, activism and community. The work continues to uplift and protect our cultural heritage,” said SCA President & CEO Lidia Soto-Harmon.
While Ebenezer Baptist Church is a National Historic Landmark, it remains an active congregation. This project ensures that the voices of longtime members, neighborhood families, ministry leaders, musicians, and community elders become part of the visitor experience, preserving stories that might otherwise become lost to time. The project serves to interpret history, heritage, faith and community.
“It’s important to tell and describe the context in which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shaped as a person and leader,” said Ebenezer Baptist Church Executive Pastor Rev. Dr. John H. Vaughn. “This project will allow us to show a fuller story. We want people to become more inspired and committed to our work of truly building a beloved community.”
Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King was baptized, ordained, preached and delivered many of his sermons and speeches, is located in the 39-acre Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park, which is managed by the National Park Service. These historic churches have been the backbone of communities, acting as places of worship, safe havens and sanctuaries for social change.
“The park is excited to join with Ebenezer Baptist Church and the SCA on capturing the multi-generational stories of church families,” said Reginald Chapple, Superintendent for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park & Preservation District. “These narratives will paint a vivid picture of church life in the Sweet Auburn historic preservation district.”
Funding will support a fellow who will design an interpretive and educational audio tour titled “Preserving the Oral History Tour of Ebenezer Baptist Church.”
“As a fourth-generation farmer and daughter of the Deep South, I understand the significance of stewarding both land and legacy,” said SCA Oral History & Interpretive Fellow Candace Morrow. “Beyond the church’s well-known history, there are countless voices from the congregation who have helped sustain the surrounding Sweet Auburn neighborhood that I am grateful to help bring to the forefront and create new ways for the public to engage with this living history.”
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation exists to advance ongoing preservation activities at historic sites, buildings, and landscapes that represent African American cultural heritage. With more than $200 million in funding, the Action Fund is the largest U.S. resource dedicated to preserving historic Black places.
About the Student Conservation Association
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community natural areas across the country. The SCA is devoted to building access to nature, providing conservation career opportunities for young people and teaching members how to become environmental stewards. Founded in 1957, the SCA is committed to building the next generation of conservation leaders dedicated to the lifelong protection of the environment and our communities. For more, visit www.thesca.org.
About the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, seeks to make an important and lasting contribution to our nation’s cultural landscape by elevating the stories and places of Black resilience, activism, and achievement. Supported by investments from the Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Freedom Together Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc. and other partners, it has raised over $200 million and supported over 400 preservation projects to date. To learn more, visit https://savingplaces.org/african-american-cultural-heritage.
Protect What You Love widget on website
"*" indicates required fields
