Note: The fundraiser originially scheduled for the 19th has been postponed. We'll post details on the new date when it is finalized.
When I read the item in the Challenger last month that the Uncrowned Queens (now Uncrowned Community Builders) Institute would have to leave its home at the University at Buffalo, I was naturally concerned and contacted the director, Dr. Barbara Barbara Seals Nevergold. "We're disappointed and saddened, but we've had the chance to digest this and focus on moving forward and doing what we need to do" to put the Institute on a solid footing outside of UB, Barbara told me. One step will be a major fundraiser next Friday (see below), organized by the Institute and its friends in the Seneca Falls Dialog.
I first met Barbara at a talk she gave at one of the Nash Lectures at the Michigan Street Baptist Church, on the founder of the Criterion and a survivor of the destruction of "Black Wall Street" in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a result, I was exposed to the work of the Uncrowned Queens Institute, housed at UB, and their publications and projects, including, "Go, Tell Michelle."
Buffalo's African-American history is very rich and an important part of our collective culture. From our Underground Railroad history, to the Niagara Movement, the formation of BUILD and the efforts to fight blockbusting, the fight to desegregate the public schools and the battle to gain political power on par with that obtained by other ethnic groups in the city.
The origins of the Uncrowned Queens were in the planning of the centennial of the Pan-Am Exposition in 2001, with discussions about the role of the women's pavilion as early as 1999. Because co-founders Barbara Seals-Nevergold and Peggy Bertram were UB faculty, they were able to set up a web page there.
In 2006, UB President Simpson provided resources for the Institute to be permanent, with the understanding that funding would decline over three years. The Institute got designated office space in Allen Hall (downstairs from WBFO), an allotment for office supplies, and--the key--the directors were able to remain on the UB payroll. "Simpson's support was unprecedented and greatly appreciated," said Barbara, "He had a vision that UB could be part of developing and hosting this nationally and even internationally recognized repository."
Taking the opportunity to expand in scope and geography, the Institute worked on the 2007 Oklahoma Centennial (where part of Tulsa, prior to a massacre, was once known as the "Black Wall Street") and also beginning to capture the stories of African-American men (Uncrowned Kings), emerging leaders (Waiting in the Wings), eventually leading the Institute to consider itself Uncrowned Community Builders. "We used that time wisely," said Barbara, "but unfortunately haven't raised capital funds."
During this time they also collaborated with WNED, an effort which won a "Gracies" award for outstanding programming featuring women (the award named for Gracie Allen of Burns & Allen fame). And books were published, including "Go, Tell Michelle," a project for African-American young people to provide their thoughts to the first African-American first lady, Michelle Obama. With $28,000 in funding from the WNED project, they created an online biography tool allowing people to submit their own stories and biographies through the web site.
And taking full advantage of being housed at the University, the Institute opened their doors to the student body, providing opportunities for student internships, volunteer service--especially for students in various honors programs and related fields of study, and to enrich education in broader areas of study such as psychology and sociology.
The Institute had hoped that by demonstrating this broad support and relevance that UB would support them longer term, but that proved not to be the case. "They're telling us they need to focus on their core mission." Also, ethno-cultural studies of all kinds (women's studies, African-American studies, foreign studies, etc.) are to be consolidated under a single program area.
On the "where are you going from here" question, Barbara told me that they are currently looking for partners in the community, and would prefer to stay affiliated with an educational institution. They see the Institute as an important resource for the community.
The Institute will need to line up alternative servers for their online resource and presence, some needed expertise. February, 2011 will mark the 10th Anniversary of the web site. "We're proud that in all that time the web site has never been down," Barbara told me. But, perhaps reflecting its age, the web site is in serious need of an overhaul in terms of interactivity and user-friendliness, if they want to compete in attracting users. Some of the funds they are looking to raise will be for this.
Amid the struggle to keep the programs, people, and (web) presence of the Institute together, it may not be the time to look for a silver lining to the cloud, but like all of us when we leave the relative shelter that university provides (although usually not recognizing that at the time), this looks to be a similar sink or swim moment for the Institute. As a community, let's make sure that the Institute not only keeps its head above water, but we support them as they venture into new channels.
Get connected:
Uncrowned Community Builders Institute Online
829-6047 (at UB)
There's always a silver lining, isn't there?