December 20, 2006

Center for Civil and Human Rights Overview

In late 2005, Mayor Shirley Franklin commissioned a Working Group, staffed by Central Atlanta Progress, to develop
the vision and concept for an Atlanta-based Center to commemorate Atlanta’s and Georgia’s contribution to the
ongoing struggles for Civil and Human Rights.

Throughout the ages humans have sought to secure a decent and just place for themselves in their community or society. Sometimes to gain that sense of security they have had to fight to change the conditions of their lives. This Center will recognize and tell the stories of the universal search for a secure human existence.

Key Recommendations
Moving Forward
Working Team Members

Document Library
Overview of Report
Full Report Recommendations
Appendix

Center for Civil and Human Rights Partnership website

Key Recommendations

Mission – This Center will explore the universal search for a secure human existence, in a way that inspires vigilance and leadership among future generations.

Content Scope – Should include the complementary stories of the struggles for both Civil and Human Rights in the past and present while highlighting the groundbreaking contributions of Atlanta’s and Georgia’s individuals, institutions, and events.

Programming – The facility should be a “living” Center where visitors experience content in multiple ways. Interactive exhibitions, immersive activities and hi-tech offerings will inspire visitors. The King Papers will be a critical part of the exhibition offering of the Center.

Critical Success Factors – Identified factors for long-run success include:
• Ability to reach and inspire a broad audience now and in the future
• Opening debt-free and with a significant endowment
• Allowing message and content to drive design
• Integrating the Center with easily accessible transportation
• Collaborating with existing local institutions
• Collecting and archiving historical materials within Georgia

Site Selection – The chosen site must enable the Center to fulfill its mission and achieve long-term success. The Working Group believes that the Centennial Park site generously offered by Coca-Cola satisfies the success criteria identified in the Report.

Moving Forward

Establish a new organization and hire staff to commence fundraising activities and execute a pre-development plan for the Center.

Undertake a comprehensive public engagement plan to raise public awareness of the Center’s mission while collecting input and ideas from community stakeholders. Execute a pre-development plan with the intention of breaking ground by June 2008

Working Team Members

John Ahmann
President, Ahmann
Amanda Brown-Olmstead
President/CEO, A. Brown-Olmstead Associates
Imara Canady
Special Events Manager, City of Atlanta
Lawrence Carter
Dean – MLK, Jr. International Chapel, Morehouse
College
Frank Catroppa
Retired Superintendent of King National Historic Site
Connie Curry
Author / Activist
Jeff Dickerson
President, Dickerson Communications
John Grant, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer, 100 Black Men of Atlanta
Jesse Hill, Jr.
Retired CEO/President/Chair of Atlanta Life Insurance
Ingrid Saunders Jones
Senior VP – Corporate External Affairs,
The Coca-Cola Company
Preston King
Scholar in Residence, Morehouse College
Earl Lewis
Provost, Emory University
Evelyn Lowery
Founder / Chair, SCLC/W.O.M.E.N.
Kevin Martinez
Director – Community Affairs, The Home Depot
Elridge McMillan
President Emeritus, Southern Education Foundation
Ellen Mendelsohn
Project Manager, Central Atlanta Progress
Alicia Philipp
President, The Community Foundation
A.J. Robinson
President, Central Atlanta Progress
Doug Shipman
Manager, Boston Consulting Group
Alan Wise
Vice President, Boston Consulting Group
Lynnette Young
Chief Operating Officer, City of Atlanta
Jamil Zainaldin
President, Georgia Humanities Council