Family Foundations Exhibition Opening

Written by Meghana Tummala & Mia Glionna / Photos by Mostafa Salama & Brian Williams

On December 2nd & 3rd, BWCC had a soft opening ceremony of the Family Foundations Exhibition at it first location: African American Cultural & Historical Museum of Washtenaw County (AACHM)!

For those unfamiliar, this interactive exhibit features the origin stories of four historic Black families from the area, the Jewett and Asher-Aray families from Ann Arbor and Pittsfield Township, and the Kersey and Bass families from Ypsilanti. Using photographs, records, and oral histories, the descendants retell the stories of how their families laid the foundation for generations of Black community building to come.

At the two day event, we had speakers from almost each family to give an introduction of their family’s background in Washtenaw County. We’re extremely happy to see all the hard work of the Exhibition Committee in creating such an amazing exhibit and for the successful and meaningful opening to the public! Above are some images of the two day event, taken by Mostafa Salama and Brian Williams, both who are part of the Exhibition Committee. Below you’ll find a short clip of one of the speeches, taken by Mostafa Salama.

The exhibit will remain in AACHM, through February 2024, open 12-4pm on weekends! Stay tuned for it’s next location…

A guest panel answering the questions the visitors asked at the AACHM opening ceremony of the Family Foundations Exhibit.