In commemoration of Black History Month, Discovering Amistad and Mystic Seaport Museum are embarking on an exciting collaboration. This initiative will engage students at Middle Schools throughout the state. Each participating school will select a person of color (from the past or present day) who has made important contributions to their communities. This person could be from any field: education, the arts, politics, civil rights, business, nonprofits, professions, etc. Middle Schools will be contacted to see if they wish to participate in this pilot program or can register by following instructions at the end of this announcement. The participating schools will be announced in February during Black History Month. Each school will select one “hero” to honor.

Requirements

Middle Schools participating will be responsible for preparing a 300-word summary of their selected hero’s life and achievements. In addition, the students will be asked to prepare a visual art project that can be in the form of a short video, graphic arts or any other artistic form. Schools can decide whether to have one class or multiple classes working on this project.

Time Line

February 12      Deadline for Schools to Enroll in this Pilot Program

February 15    Public Announcement of Participating Schools

April 1            Schools Select Connecticut Heroes to be Recognized

May 15            Project Completion (Essay & Art)

June 15           Public Recognition & Awards

Recognition

The presentations prepared will be included in a manual and/or on a website that will be available to schools and community organizations, hopefully with the involvement of state government and/or the State Board of Education. The art submissions will also be made into a collage and printed on a flag or flags to be flown on The Amistad and at the Mystic Seaport Museum.

Awards

Participating schools will be recognized in the manual and/or the website and at an awards ceremony. Each school will receive an honorarium of $500 and student participants in the project will be given a free sail on The Amistad and free admission to the Mystic Seaport Museum on a specially designated day in the Fall of 2021 or the Spring of 2022.

In addition, two students from each participating school will be entitled to attend a one-week Overnight Sailing Camp at MSM free of charge. These students will work together with others at the camp on the further exploration of Black History in Connecticut.

For Further Information

Note: The number of participating schools will be limited this first year, so applicants are encouraged to register no later than February 12th 2021.

Contact Chris Menapace at c_menapace@discoveringamistad.org to register or for additional information.