In April, Frederick County recommended a Community Partnership Grant in the amount of $25,000 be awarded to AARCH Society, which was approved by the Frederick County Council in May. Funds will support our work to open Frederick’s first African American museum, the Heritage Center, in 2024.

In July, AARCH Society was awarded $47,500 in funds from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to support the installation of exhibits at our African American Heritage Center, planned for 2024. Grant funds support heritage tourism projects and activities that attract visitors and expand economic development and tourism-related jobs throughout Maryland.

Also in July, we received a $10,000 Community Promotion Grant from the City of Frederick to support our work to open the Heritage Center. Mayor Michael O’Connor presented a ceremonial check to AARCH Society’s Protean Gibril, Rose Chaney, and Barbara Thompson.

Finally, in August,  AARCH Society was part of a Senate Appropriations bill that, once approved, would bring $162,000 in funds to AARCH Society. If secured, the funds will be put toward digitizing and preserving the Society’s archival items. The $10 million bill seeks to provide funds for community-led projects in the state of Maryland and was put forward by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin.

We are, as always, profoundly grateful for the support we continue to receive through our private, government, and charitable foundation partners. Grants and donations provide critical support that allows us to serve community members and visitors of all ages and cultural backgrounds who are interested in learning about and sharing their stories about African American history and heritage in Frederick County.