In The Name of Freedom
At a groundbreaking ceremony for the new North Carolina Freedom Park in downtown Raleigh on Wednesday, two members of NC State watched with big smiles.
“I am just so excited,” says Victoria Gallagher, professor of communications and secretary of the park’s board of directors. “I’m so excited for Raleigh and the state, because it’s going to be a beautiful park.”
Freedom Park honors the voices and experiences of African Americans in North Carolina’s history while celebrating the importance of freedom to all people no matter their background. It will take shape on an acre of land at the corner of Wilmington and Lane streets, not far from the General Assembly building. Read the full article here.
NC Freedom Park Breaks Ground
Tucked away in downtown Raleigh, at the intersection of Lane and Wilmington streets near the Executive Mansion, lies an acre of land that will be the site of North Carolina Freedom Park.
On Wednesday, crews broke ground on the first North Carolina state monument to honor African Americans – a dream two decades in the making.
Reginald Hildebrand, a member of the new park's board of directors, calls it a place for people to learn about the contributions of African Americans who fought for a better society. Read the full article here.
After years of delay, park honoring black North Carolinians to break ground this year
A park meant to honor the history, contributions and struggles of black North Carolinians is set to finally break ground in December.
One of the last hurdles was cleared Wednesday when the NC Historical Commission unanimously voted to approve the design and concept of the park.
Called North Carolina Freedom Park, it’s set to be located between the state legislature and the governor’s mansion at the intersection of Wilmington and Lane streets. It will be the first park dedicated to black North Carolinians at the state government complex.
Read moreCould a memorial to African-Americans finally make its way onto the Capitol grounds?
News and Observer
August 29, 2018
RALEIGH
Stalled plans for African-American memorials envisioned for Raleigh’s state government center are getting new attention with the recent focus on Confederate monuments on the Capitol grounds.
As the state Historical Commission declined last week to recommend moving three Confederate statues, it promised new efforts to get money for an African-American monument on the Capitol grounds that has been discussed for years but never funded.
At the same time, planners of a separate, privately-funded projected called Freedom Park that’s envisioned for the corner of Wilmington and Lane streets near the Legislative Building hope that the renewed spotlight on memorials will spur its fundraising.
As monument debate ramps up, Freedom Park hopes for funding boost
ABC 11
August 29, 2018
As the debate about the future of Confederate monuments rages on from college campuses to the state Legislature, organizers behind the North Carolina Freedom Park are hopeful the renewed attention will increase their funding.
"The time is not only right, it's past time," said Reginald Hildebrand, a board member with the North Carolina Freedom Park.
The NC Freedom Park honoring African Americans will “tell the truth about our Past”
News and Observer
Letter to the Editor
August 9, 2018
In response to the run of op-eds and letters about Confederate monuments, it is a propitious moment for North Carolina to claim higher ground in the swirling national discussion about race, hatred and the proper role of government and its participating citizens. The soil has been prepared for the planting of an important symbol of who we are and want to be as a society with deep Southern roots and an optimistic eye to the future.
Read moreDavid Warren and Goldie Frinks Wells: Erect monuments to freedom
News and Observer
Letter to the Editor
July 20, 2018
Barry Saunders raised an evocative point in his July 8 column “Silent Sam needs a companion” about adding to rather than removing statues.
In this window of opportunity for North Carolina to demonstrate a positive rejoinder to the sudden Southern remorse over public reminders of slavery and Jim Crow, it might be well and perhaps easy for our political and business leaders to come together to find common ground on racial symbolism.
Read moreSECU Foundation Provides $500,000 Challenge Grant for N.C. Freedom Park in Raleigh
RALEIGH, N.C., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Representatives from SECU Foundation’s Board of Directors and State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) were in Durham this week to announce a $500,000 SECU Foundation challenge grant for a new public park in downtown Raleigh – the North Carolina Freedom Park. SECU Foundation Board Chair Cynthia Jolly delivered the announcement and presented the ceremonial check to North Carolina Freedom Monument Project, Inc. officials during the special event. The Foundation’s member-funded challenge grant will assist the non-profit’s fundraising efforts to help make Freedom Park a reality, honoring African-American leaders in the state who sought freedom and equality for all in North Carolina.
North Carolina Freedom Park awarded 2017 AIA Design Award
September 30, 2017
AIA North Carolina is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Design Awards. The AIA North Carolina Design and Chapter Awards held on Friday, September 15 at the Wilmington Convention Center in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, is a statewide awards competition recognizing design that exceeds benchmarks for outstanding architectural design, structural composition, and application of design theory.
Over 115 projects were submitted to this year's program and 21 were awarded. The North Carolina Freedom Park Design received an AIA North Carolina Merit Award.
NC Freedom Park to represent 'freedom for all' in downtown Raleigh
ABC 11
August 9, 2017
A downtown Raleigh park honoring African American heritage and contributions to North Carolina is one step closer to becoming a reality.
View video and read full article here.
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