A new crowdfunding campaign has been launched for the Unified Civic Monuments Project as it seeks a state matching grant.
African American History and Literature Gallery Co-Director Sharon Brown tells us the project is seeking a $50,000 match from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Public Spaces Community Places program. She says the agency wants to help the project reach its ultimate goal.
“To be able to go to our government agency and to say we’re ready, we’re poised to fit the guidelines, and we’re right at that last $100,000, and they said they’ll pitch that last campaign, it’s a unique thing,” Brown said.
The Unified Civic Monuments Project is seeking to build two monuments to Dr. Martin Luther King, one in Benton Harbor and one in St. Joseph. Brown says this is everyone’s chance to help.
“It’s really seriously important — it always has been from the beginning — for the community to be aware and to have the opportunity to say, ‘Hey, I’d like to vote for that.’ And how they can vote for that is by giving.”
You can make a donation online. The project has 62 days to reach the $50,000 goal.
Brown says the project is still on track to be completed next year.
