By: Rebekah Turnmire, AACRN Coordinator, Center for Civil Rights History & Research
April 10, 2024
The Learning Lab series provides practical tips, advice, and guidance on specific historic preservation topics that are relevant to African American preservation projects. We hope these posts help community members and leaders better navigate the complexities of historic preservation work successfully.
Short Description of topic
The African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN) was created by Congress in 2017 authorizing the National Park Service to commemorate, honor, and interpret the history of the African American Civil Rights movement and the sacrifices made by those who fought for its cause. AACRN is noncompetitive and encompasses properties, facilities, and interpretive programs that provide a comprehensive portrayal of the individuals, locations, and events connected to the African American Civil Rights movement. It is not only an opportunity to provide a comprehensive overview of often overlooked people, places and events associated with the movement, but is an opportunity to connect with places doing similar work and access AACRN-specific grant funds and expertise from the National Park Service. Plus, applications are accepted on a rolling basis! In 2022, the Center for Civil Rights History and Research at USC joined AACRN as a program and became an institutional partner. As an institutional partner, the Center staff can help those interested in joining AACRN draft applications, conduct historical research related to the property or program, and consult with current and future AACRN members. The Center for Civil Rights History and Research is a vital source helping craft applications or answer related research questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out! Getting South Carolina sites, programs, and facilities that interpret or are related to the African American Civil Rights Movement listed on the African American Civil Rights Network is important for long-term preservation and wider acknowledgement of the important, but often overlooked role, the state had on the national movement.
10 Tips for Applying to the African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN):
Check out the African American Civil Rights Network Application & Instructions page and read through the National Park Service’s “Definitions of Properties, Facilities, and Programs Resource Types,” “Criteria for Joining the Network,” and “Application Form Information.” This is an important first step before starting an application because it will help determine what route you take when drafting your application!
Facilities and Programs are much broader categories and do not have to be determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places! A mural, performance, workshop, and many other things can be listed as a program as long as it is a complete application that presents or explains the history of African American civil rights to the public.
Read through the application samples before gathering reference and research materials! This will help you decide whether you need to conduct more research or talk to the SC Department of Archives and History about National Register eligibility (if a property).
Create a draft of the full application in a word document, including the narrative statements and timeline, alongside the other required documents (letter of consent, eligibility form, brochures, etc). The application portal DOES NOT have a save function at this time. If you have a word document, you can copy and paste all the information without having to start from scratch if you accidentally leave or time-out of the portal while writing your narrative.
You do not have to be the owner or manager of a property, facility, or program to nominate a resource to AACRN. If you prefer, the Center for Civil Rights at USC’s AACRN Coordinator (Rebekah Turnmire) can compile the materials, write the application, and submit it for you or can assist with submitting an already crafted application.
The Letter of Owner Consent is an important part of ALL applications regardless of whether the resource is a property, facility, or program. The “owner” of the resource will depend on what type of resource is applying. If in doubt, reach out to me (Rebekah Turnmire) at the Center for Civil Rights or AACRN staff!
Additional documentation like brochures, maps, timelines, webpage screenshots, or other documents which illustrate the resource’s association with the African American Civil Rights movement are important but do not need to be exhaustive. A few good examples, of both public facing (brochures) and internal (primary sources or research papers) are sufficient!
If you are an organization, museum, archive, community group, I would suggest using the institution’s central or public email address so that if the person submitting the application leaves, a new person can easily access the portal.
Make sure to convert all materials (including the Letter of Owner Consent) into Adobe PDF format when you’re ready to upload and submit to the portal.
By Zach Bjur, Conservation Voters of South Carolina
April 2, 2024
Introduce yourself! Tell us a little about you. How did you get started in your advocacy?
My name is Zach Bjur and I am the Land, Water, Ocean Project Manager for Conservation Voters of South Carolina. I’ve been interested in politics and the process of government from an early age, and I’ve always been an avid amateur naturalist. In school I pursued both passions and got degrees in Political Science and Biology. My first job out of college was with Organizing for America working on President Obama’s 2012 campaign. After the election, I worked at the South Carolina Aquarium and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Both positions focused on public outreach and education about our natural resources, educating people to inform their own advocacy. Then, in 2019, I co founded a multimedia project called Apparent Winds that highlighted local climate change and marine science research and advocacy efforts in communities around the world. When the COVID pandemic changed the course of that project, I came home to SC and focused my efforts on environmental advocacy at the state level via my position with Conservation Voters of South Carolina.
What is your area of expertise and what are you knowledgeable about specifically? Aka tell us what your superpower is and why people should listen to your advice!
My background is in grassroots organizing and community outreach and education, both in the political sphere and the sciences. I have been doing this work for nearly 10 years and the foundation of all of it is building trust. Relationships are built on trust and trust can only be fostered through meaningful time spent with community, listening, and empowering others.
What kind of historic preservation projects have you worked on?
One of our most exciting projects at CVSC is our Rosenwald Schools Protection Network initiative. We learned about Rosenwald Schools as we attempted to identify non-traditional conservation targets that could broaden the impact of land protection in our state. These schools and the land they sit on are often still in the heart of rural and under resourced communities they once served. These sites are increasingly under development pressure which threatens the stories they hold. Protecting these sites not only promotes public greenspace access, it supports historic preservation and community revitalization in these underserved communities around the state.
How does your work in advocacy intersect with preserving Black historic spaces?
At CVSC we believe all land tells a story and we want to be cognizant of which stories we’re protecting with our land protection advocacy efforts. Black historic spaces have been long overlooked by conservation advocacy efforts and we are intent on changing that narrative. We want land and historic sites that are important to the Black community to be prioritized in state advocacy work so that the protected lands in our state reflect the diverse interests of all South Carolinians.
What do African American preservation projects need to know about advocacy?
Building coalitions that weave together diverse stakeholders is the best way to build enduring projects. Preserving African American history has potential benefits for historic preservation, conservation, economic development, tourism, and more. Identifying those benefits and clearly communicating them paves the way for partnerships across sectors which in turn strengthens advocacy efforts.
What do people need to know about advocacy? (how do you get political actors to listen to you?)
Advocacy comes down to storytelling. How can you present your movement in a way that connects with people? Political actors are people just like you and me, and unless you can build that personal connection that gives them a reason to be invested, you won’t get far. Understanding how your project connects to people is key. What are the impacts? What is the legacy? Why should people care?
If someone asked for your advice on the first step they should take in advocating for their historic preservation project – what would you say?
Relationship building is the foundation for any advocacy effort. Relationships with state and local officials, non-profits, and community advocates are all necessary for a successful project. Strong partnerships increase capacity and impact. By seeking out and embracing non-traditional partnerships that complement your team’s strengths and weaknesses you can multiply your efforts and find greater success.
What steps would you recommend for people who are not a professional or expert in advocacy work?
First off, trust yourself. The best advocates are the people closest to the issue who can speak passionately about their project. Decision makers at all levels of government are meant to respond to the needs of their constituents so don’t be bashful when getting your message to them. That being said, it can be intimidating to step into unfamiliar spaces, so find partners and organizations who know how to operate in these spaces to help you hone your message and amplify your voice.
What is the single most important or impactful thing you can do in advocacy?
Being authentic is the most powerful tool in an advocate’s tool box. Whatever has driven you to work on a project – share that. Share your passion, it is contagious. When an advocate comes from a place of authenticity, not only can it help build your coalition it magnifies the impact of your message to those that need to hear it.
Additional insight or advice …?
CVSC has been advocating at the state level for 20 years. We strive to be a trusted resource for advocacy at the Statehouse and have built strong relationships with our state decision-makers. If you have a project that you think we could partner on, please reach out!
