Meeting
MAR 24, 2026
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm CST
8:30 pm - 9:30 pm EST
zoom link
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/3731813519?pwd=VD2XYrIl2mg9VPKC5zZM5oLkuwdxwS.1&omn=88272233026
zoom link
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/3731813519?pwd=VD2XYrIl2mg9VPKC5zZM5oLkuwdxwS.1&omn=88272233026
2026
8 of 15 Annual Donors have contributed
-----------------------------------------------
Allocated $10,000 of $22,200 to investments
Investments discussed below
Part 1
Richland-Jones Heritage Corridor
Proposed Walking Loop (yellow)
3/4/26 - We have a broker
3/6/26 - Signed, Letter of Intent
3/6/26 - Update #1 sent, City of Greenville
3/9/26 - Offered, Letter of Intent
3/13/26 Met with Architect, Scott Johnston
3/13/26 - Update #2 sent, City of Greenville
3/13/26 - Update #1 sent, Architect
3/11/26 They Counter, 2 options
3/12/26 We Counter, $100K
3/16/26 They Counter, $130K lowest
3/17/26 We counter, Owner carries loan
3/18/26 They offer $130K, 20 years, 7.5%, 3 year balloon, $40K down payment
3/18/26 We counter $130K, 20 years, 7.5%, 3 year balloon, $30K down payment
3/20/26 - Update #3 sent, City of Greenville
3/20/26 - Update #2 sent, Architect
Obtain Support LTR, Robin Coon- Historian
Obtain Support LTR, Greg McKee- Historian
Obtain Support LTR, Helen Simpson-Historian
Seeking meeting, Councilwoman Flemming
Application/PDF ready for submission
03/24/26 - Project Preview Meeting
04/06/26 - Upcoming Submission Date
Part 2
$400
Review Juneteenth 2026
Firm Up your ideas for our table
Supplies + Shirts
Will you be attending?
Thursday, June 18- Artist-in Residence- Phyllis Wheatley
Friday,June 19 - Juneteenth
Lodging
Lodging Option 1- " Buttons" Johnson offered to host
Lodging Option 2- Hyatt Place rooms sleep 4, sleeper sofa
Questions to answer
Lodging Question - How many nights? How many rooms?
Transportation Question - How much transportation help can scholarship offer/person?
$1,590
Up to 50% of $159
$79.50/scholar
Direct pay to Phillis Wheatley c/o scholar
Total - $79.50 x 20 scholars
Question to answer
Still planning for 20 scholars?
$1,099
Silver Bullion Coins for Youth
Delivered
11 American Silver Eagles (ASE)
The ASE is the official silver bullion coin of the US.
It is struck only in the one-troy ounce and is guaranteed to contain one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver.
Questions to answer
Which scholars will get a coin?
How will the selection occur?
Artist-in-Residence
Good to go?
Phillis Wheatley
June 18
10am - 11am
Sought Intro From Rev Wilder
Email > Dr. Feliccia Smith
Referred to Mr. George Singleton (864) 270-4131
Urban League Circle of Friends
3/13/26 Text>Mr George Singleton
3/13/26 Call> Mr George Singleton
2026 Juneteenth Freedom Experience
2026 Juneteenth Freedom Experience
The Freedom Experience medallion celebrates the journey through Juneteenth history, creativity, and discovery. Its radiant starburst, inspired by the Juneteenth flag, symbolizes freedom shining across the nation.
At the start of the Freedom Experience, the leader can say:
“Today we are going to explore the story of freedom.
Along the way you will learn history, create art, use your voice, and celebrate together.”
Then show the bell.
“At the end of our journey, we will ring the bell to celebrate freedom.
When you finish all the challenges, you will help us make freedom ring!”
This creates anticipation for the finale.
Start of activity
Leader shows the bell and explains the final celebration
Kids complete stations
Collect FREEDOM coins
Mission Complete station
Answer review questions
Final moment
Kids ring bells together
Medallion ceremony
Receive Freedom Experience medallion
F – Freedom Explorer
Match Moments of Freedom
Place the correct event card beneath each year.
1776
Declaration of Independence — the idea that all people deserve freedom.
1865
Juneteenth — enslaved people in Texas learn they are free.
1954
Brown v. Board of Education — segregation in schools is ruled unconstitutional.
1964
Civil Rights Act — laws passed to protect equal rights.
• Large timeline board or table display
• 4 large year cards (1776, 1865, 1954, 1964)
• 4 event description cards
• F coin
R – Rights Ranger
Place 3 Markers Atop Map
Kansas
Brown v. Board of Education ended school segregation ⚖️ Justice Marker
South Carolina
Major port where many enslaved Africans first arrived ⛵ Arrival Marker
Texas
June 19, 1865 – enslaved people learn they are free (Juneteenth)
⭐ Freedom Star
Supplies
• Large U.S. map poster
• 3 large markers or magnets
• Small label cards explaining each location
• R coin
E- Every Story Matters
Remember the Stories Around Us
Learn about Mattoon Presbyterian Church and why places like this matter in our history.
This church was built with handmade brick and constructed through the labor of enslaved people. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, churches like Mattoon also created church schools that helped educate many African-American children.
Ms. Mildred Louise Johnson Leatherwood Wolfe went to school here and worshiped here as a child.
Touch the building, look closely, and think about the people whose hands helped build it and the families who learned here.
Then write one sentence:
“Why is it important to remember history?”
Every community has stories.
Every person has a story.
Every story matters.
• Photo or display card about Mattoon Presbyterian Church
• Short printed history card
• Notecards
• Pencils
• E coin
Help kids understand that history lives in places, people, and stories in their own community.
E-Expression Artist
Freedom means different things to different people.
Use your imagination and draw what freedom looks like to you.
It might be:
family
music
dancing
friends
school
nature
anything that makes you feel free.
Your art is your voice without words.
• Small drawing cards or paper
• Crayons
• Markers
• Colored pencils
• Table covering
• E coin
Help kids express their personal idea of freedom through art.
Volunteer can say:
“Freedom means something different to everyone.
Draw what freedom looks like to you.”
Once the drawing is finished → earn the Expression Artist coin.
Celebrate Freedom Through Rhythm
Music and dance have always been a way for people to express joy, culture, and freedom.
Learn a simple rhythm or dance move with the African Dance Corps- or musicians + singers
Clap, stomp, move, and celebrate together!
When you complete the rhythm or dance move, you become a Dance Champion.
• One drum (or rhythm instrument)
• Small open space for movement
• Volunteer or dance leader
• D coin
Help kids experience how music, rhythm, and dance are powerful expressions of culture and freedom.
Volunteer says:
“Follow the rhythm!
When you complete the dance, you earn your Dance Champion coin.”
O-Our Voices Matter
Raise Your Voice for Freedom
Kids see/hear short clip
**"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!"**
During the Civil Rights Movement, people gathered together to demand equal rights and justice.
In 1963, more than 250,000 people came to Washington, D.C. for the March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Watch a short clip and notice the large and diverse crowd who came together to call for freedom.
Then join in a call-and-response inspired by Dr. King’s words.
Leader: “Now is the time!”
Kids: “Now is the time!”
Leader: “I have a dream!”
Kids: “I have a dream!”
Leader: “Let freedom ring!”
Kids: “Let freedom ring!”
Leader: “Free at last!”
Kids: “Free at last!”
When you raise your voice, you earn the Our Voices Matter coin.
• Laptop or tablet
• Small monitor or screen
• Short 3-minute MLK speech clip
• Printed call-and-response cards
• Volunteer leader
• O coin
Ask one quick question:
“What did you notice about the people in the crowd?”
Expected answers:
Many people
Different kinds of people
People standing together
This reinforces the idea that freedom movements involve many voices.
Mission Complete
Answer the questions and complete your Freedom Experience mission.
What happened in 1865?
Expected answer:
Enslaved people in Texas learned they were free (Juneteenth).
Which state is Juneteenth connected to?
Expected answer:
Texas
Which state helped end school segregation in the Brown v. Board of Education case?
Expected answer:
Kansas
What is special about Mattoon Presbyterian Church?
Possible answers:
• Built with handmade brick
• Built with the labor of enslaved people
• Educated African-American children
• Ms. Mildred went to school here
What did you draw that represents freedom?
Expected answer:
Any personal answer
Who gave the “I Have a Dream” speech?
Expected answer:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Volunteer says:
“Mission Complete!”
Then they receive the Freedom Medallion.
• Printed question cards
• M coin
• Freedom Medallion
All coins 2-sided
Side 1 = Letter
Side 2 = Logo
Earned if all 7 challenges completed
2 sided
1.5" in diameter
1865 = Juneteenth
67 = kids saying " 6 7"
Add hole + Sting = Can be worn
Composition =Wood with Laser etching
Leader gathers the kids and says:
“Today you explored history, used your voice, created art, and celebrated freedom.
You learned that freedom is built through courage, community, and remembering our stories.”
Then hold up the medallion and say:
“Because you completed the journey, you are now Freedom Explorers and Freedom Champions.”
Give each child the medallion and say: “Mission Complete!”
Leader shouts:
Leader: “What did we learn today?”
Kids: “Freedom!”
or
Leader: “Let freedom…”
Kids: “Ring!”
✅ = Completed
❌ = Not Completed
1
❌ Assemble letters of Support, Richland-Jones Heritage Corridor
✅Mattoon Presbyterian Church
❌Robin Coon
❌Greg McKee
❌Helen Simpson
2
❌ Phyllis Wheatley- Confirm number of Art Camp Scholarships
3
❌ Contact Us: Parents seeking scholarships
Parents/scholars must apply for scholarships
❌mlc19910606@gmail.com
4
❌ Urban League of the Upstate, Circle of Friends
(2) Corporate Partners
Funds + Stock
Grow scholarship cash
Invested $10,000
Gold and silver miners