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We’re Heading to Washington D.C.!

September 23, 2016

Project Success is bringing Minneapolis students to the historic grand opening of the
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. 

 September 23-25, 2016

This weekend, Project Success is taking eight Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) high school seniors from eight different MPS high schools (Edison, Henry, Longfellow, North, Roosevelt, Washburn, South and Southwest) to Washington D.C. Sept. 23-25 for a unique experiential learning opportunity and to be part of history. The students will be some of the first members of the general public to see the new 19th Smithsonian museum — the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) — as part of its sold-out grand opening weekend and dedication ceremony.

The trip is a partnership between Project Success and MPS as part of a larger initiative to provide global education opportunities for MPS students. Project Success provides experiential learning opportunities for ALL students in each of the seventeen MPS schools we serve, including in-state and out-of-state college tours, seven-day wilderness adventures, professional theater performances, and other global experiences for thousands of MPS students every year as part of our published curriculum.

“This is a vital opportunity for our students to have a personal experience, to reflect on their identity and to witness first-hand, history in the making.  It is an experience that will inspire and ignite a world of possibilities for them!” explained Adrienne Diercks, the founder and executive director of Project Success, who will accompany the students to Washington, D.C.

The students will take part in the NMAAHC dedication ceremony, the first tours of the museum, and explore important historical sites in the D.C. area.  This global education opportunity furthers Project Success’ and MPS’ efforts to develop global citizens with strong cultural competencies to succeed in a global world.

The high school students were nominated by their school principals to participate in the trip. Quentin, a 12th grader from Patrick Henry, reflected on the impact the trip will make for him,

“I recently suffered an injury that prevented me from playing football. Football was all I had, and without it, I felt useless. I let football define me and going on this trip will help me clear my mind and come back with a different perspective on who I am and the history of my people.”

Alaysia, a 12th grader from Washburn high school, is anxiously awaiting the experience.

“I want to see history being made. I want to be a part of something great once again. I have been involved in many school projects, programs and other scholarly events, but being a part of this makes my four years of high school look like nothing compared to this powerful, cultural, once-in-a-lifetime experience for me as a person of color.”

Studies have shown that by participating in Project Success programs, students not only gain critical social and emotional skills needed for success, they are more likely to improve their academic engagement and achievement.

“Project Success helps support our efforts in closing the achievement gaps. We see statistically significant positive gains in on-time graduation rates, attendance and most importantly grade point average.” Eric Moore, Executive Director of Research, Evaluation, Assessment and Accountability, Minneapolis Public Schools.

Read the wrap up of our D.C. trip and follow us on social media (FacebookTwitter) for more photos and a deeper look into this and other global experiences for students.

ABOUT THE SMITHSONIAN NMAAHC:

The National Museum of African American History and Culture will be a place where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to their lives and how it helped us shape this nation. Opening on September 24th, the historic significance of the newest and 19th Smithsonian museum – and its importance to all Americans – will make it an unprecedented local, national and international event unlike any other opening of a cultural institution in America or globally in recent memory.

You can learn more about the museum here:

Museum Website: https://nmaahc.si.edu/.

NPR Website: http://www.npr.org/2016/09/14/493688656/100-years-in-the-making-black-history-and-culture-museum-ready-for-reveal

New York Times article about the years-long process to build the NMAAHC: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/05/arts/design/how-the-fight-for-a-national-african-american-museum-was-won.html

A Local Connection: Frederick McKinley Jones is an African-American inventor who moved to Minnesota in the 1930’s and was the inventor of the refrigerated over-the-road truck, a business still surviving as Thermo King. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_McKinley_Jones