Press Room

September 28, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Rodger Pille, (513) 287-7054, piller@cincymuseum.org

MUSEUM CENTER TO CREATE AN
UNPRECEDENTED TRIBUTE TO
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN

'Freedom's Sisters' Exhibit Also Set to Premiere
in Cincinnati March 2008

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, the Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) announced details of an innovative and artistic tribute to African American women, Freedom’s Sisters, on Thursday, September 27, 2007 at the City Club of Washington at Columbia Square, Washington, D.C.

Freedom’s Sisters, a traveling exhibition created by Museum Center, celebrates 20 African American women —from key 19th century historical figures to contemporary leaders, who have fought for equality for people of color.

The exhibition will open at Cincinnati Museum Center on March 15, 2008.

The announcement was part of a private reception, emceed by Entertainment Tonight’s weekend show host/correspondent, Kevin Frazier, and filled with a menu of speakers, a strolling dinner, entertainment and a special unveiling.

“Cincinnati Museum Center is excited for the opportunity to create this exhibition that will honor the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement,” said President and CEO, Douglass W. McDonald, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. “The opportunity to partner with both Ford and the Smithsonian Institution is one which will provide our museum center the opportunity to participate in what we believe will be a dynamic and profoundly moving initiative.”

“Ford is extremely excited about this extraordinary exhibition and its theme of paying tribute to the legacies of African American women who helped shape the spirit and substance of civil rights in America,” said Jim Vella, President, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "It is part of Ford's overall commitment to celebrating our American heritage and legacy."

Freedom’s Sisters is expected to attract people of all ages, races, and backgrounds, whether they were a part of the civil rights movement themselves, or a student of the movement through stories passed down through family, friends and history books. Throughout its three-year nationwide tour, this interactive, multi-media exhibit will also seek to encourage and motivate the next generation of leaders through dialogue on the civil rights struggle, past, present and future, within their own local communities.

“SITES is deeply proud to be able to share with the nation some of the most profound stories of America’s civil rights journey,” said Anna R. Cohn, Director of SITES. “The 20 remarkable women who illuminate this exhibition will inspire everyone beyond measure.”

In support of the launch of the exhibition, notable African Americans who have made significant contributions to the African American community have been invited to sit on the National Committee of Honor for the project, including U.S. Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

"I am proud to be a part of this exceptional exhibition honoring the service and sacrifice of African American women,” said Congresswoman Kilpatrick. “This powerful presentation highlighting their contributions and commitment should inspire us to continue their legacy of love and leadership. We must work together to build a stronger and united America in which all citizens have equal access to opportunities and justice.”

This exciting collaboration between Cincinnati Museum Center, Ford, and the Smithsonian Institution brings together three outstanding partners who will design, produce and travel an exhibition that will leave a lasting impression at every stop it makes.

ABOUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 280,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

ABOUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is committed to creating opportunities that promote corporate citizenship, philanthropy, volunteerism and cultural diversity for those who live in the communities where Ford does business. Established in 1949 and made possible by Ford Motor Company profits, Ford Motor Company Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster innovative education, auto-related safety, and American heritage and legacy. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, which provides high school students with academically rigorous 21st century learning experiences, and Driving Skills for Life, a teen-focused auto safety initiative. The Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, continues Ford's legacy of caring worldwide. Through the Volunteer Corps, salaried employees, union members, retirees and their families participate in a wide range of volunteer projects in their communities. For more information on programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, visit www.ford.com.

ABOUT CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is home to the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater, and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. It is a nationally recognized educational and research resource and one of the top cultural attractions in the Midwest. Cincinnati Museum Center serves more than one million visitors annually, reaching out to almost 200,000 young people through hands-on exhibits and programs. As a center for the community, more than 700 events are held in the building each year. Originally built in 1933 as the Union Terminal train station, the building is a national historic landmark and was renovated and reopened as Cincinnati Museum Center in 1990. For information, call (513) 287-7000 or 1-800-733-2077 or visit www.cincymuseum.org.

ABOUT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION TRAVELING EXHIBITION SERVICE (SITES)
SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For more information, including exhibition descriptions and tour schedules, visit www.sites.si.edu.