For Immediate Release
September 8, 2017
Media Contact: Jacqulyn Kirkland, 334-230-2690 or jacqulyn.kirkland@ahc.alabama.gov
BLACK HERITAGE COUNCIL TO HOST COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FORUM IN ANDALUSIA, CONVINGTON COUNTY
The Black Heritage Council of the Alabama Historical Commission will host a FREE Community Preservation Forum in Andalusia, Alabama, on September 23, 2017 from 9:00am – 3:00pm at the Woodson Learning Center, 1201 C.C. Baker Avenue, Andalusia, Alabama.
The theme for the program is Preserving and Promoting Covington County’s African-American History, which will shine a spotlight on the county’s heritage and historic places. The Forum will focus on assisting individuals and groups in the area with documenting, preserving and promoting historic places that reflect the community’s history and heritage.
The Forum will feature information on the following topics:
• State and federal programs to assist individuals, towns and communities with registering &
preserving historic places
• Proper ways to document, register, care for and clean church, family cemeteries/grave stones
• Saving family, church, school records/photographs/newspapers/books
• How to get a historical marker for a site
• Andalusia’s plans for the Bicentennial celebration
• Finding funding for preserving historic places and related projects
• History of black schools and communities in Covington County, Alabama
and more…
On Friday, September 22 the Black Heritage Council will tour historic sites in Andalusia, River Falls, Florala, Opp and Lockhart as an overview prior to the Forum on Saturday. At 6:00 pm on Friday, September 22, the public can talk one-on-one with Black Heritage Council members about projects in their own community during their board meeting which is open to the public and will be held at the Woodson Learning Center.
Visit BHCforum.eventbrite.com to register (registration is required and ends September 19). Click here to download the postcard.
Although the Forum will be held in Andalusia, it is open to anyone throughout Alabama who is interested in attending.
This program is being supported by the City of Andalusia, Covington County Commission, African-American Heritage Society of Covington County and the Covington County Historical Society.
For more information contact the Black Heritage Council of the Alabama Historical Commission at 334-230-2678 or blackheritagecouncil@ahc.alabama.gov.
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The Black Heritage Council of the Alabama Historical Commission is the only statewide organization whose primary mission is the preservation of African American historic places. The Council was founded in 1984 as an advisory and advocacy group to the Alabama Historical Commission and was the first of its kind developed in the nation. Since 1999, the Black Heritage Council has held Community Preservation Forums in cities and towns across Alabama. The purpose of the Forums is to provide information to communities on the resources available to assist them with preserving historic places as community and economic development.
About the Alabama Historical Commission
Located in historic downtown Montgomery at 468 S. Perry Street, the Alabama Historical Commission is the state historic preservation agency for Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission to protect, preserve and interpret Alabama’s historic places. AHC works to accomplish its mission through two fields of endeavor: Preservation and promotion of state-owned historic sites as public attractions; and, statewide programs to assist people, groups, towns, and cities with local preservation activities. For a complete list of programs and properties owned and operated by the AHC, hours of operation, and admission fees please visit ahc.alabama.gov
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