Thursday, March 4, 2010

Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission to meet

The Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission will hold a meeting. All citizens are invited and encouraged to attend. The Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission was established by Richmond City Council in 1998 and has since worked to help preserve the history of slavery in Richmond. 

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Richmond City Hall - 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 200 - Richmond, Virginia  23219 www.council.richmondva.gov
                
COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, 4 March 2010
   
 Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission to meet

All Citizens invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT        The Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission will hold a meeting. All citizens are invited and encouraged to attend. The Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission was established by Richmond City Council in 1998 and has since worked to help preserve the history of slavery in Richmond. The agenda will include the following:

Welcome
New Business
Update on Signage Developments
Committee Reports
Update on Non-Profit Foundation Legal Status   
Smithsonian Collaboration
Retreat (possible dates:  April 20, 21, 23 April 27, 28, or 29, 2010)
Closing Remarks/Adjournment

WHEN            Thursday, March 4, 2010
        2:30-4:30 p.m.
         
WHERE     Virginia General Assembly Building, 5th Floor West Conference Room
    The Virginia General Assembly Building is located at the Corner of
9th and Broad Streets in downtown Richmond at 901 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

WHO         The Honorable Delores L. McQuinn, Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates 70th District, Chairman, Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission

CONTACT     For more information, please contact Beverly Crawford, at 804.698.1070, or deldmcquinn@house.virginia.gov

BACKGROUND _______________________________________________________________________
Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission
The Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission is a government entity that was established by Richmond City Council in 1998 by Resolution Number 98-R 102-107, as amended by Resolution Number 2004-R125-131. The Commission includes 17 members that are appointed by Council to serve for three year terms. Membership includes at least one member of Council (who is given first option of serving as Chairman) and three members of the Hope in the Cities of Richmond organization.

Since its creation, the Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission has worked to help preserve the history of slavery in Richmond. Over the years, Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission projects have included:

•    2003 Acquisition of Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue

•    2006 Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Archaeological Assessment

•    2007 Richmond International Unveiling of Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue, erected in 2007 at 15th and E. Main Streets. Included design and construction of the Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statute plaza and erection of the statue.

•    2008 – 2009 Phase II Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Archaeological Assessment: which included engineering and storm water engineering

•    2008 Discovery of Lumpkin’s Slave Jail historic foundation and architectural artifacts.

•    2009 Development of the Richmond Slave Trail Marker Program, Signage and Commemorative Site: Lumpkin’s Slave Jail

•    2009 Development of the conceptual Richmond National Slavery Museum

Richmond City Council provides annual staff assistance and financial support for the Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission. Council staff support includes providing fiscal management, public information, writing, publication creation, graphic design, special event and project management, promotions and fundraising. Additional staff support is provided by the Richmond City Administration through the Richmond Department of Economic Development, which includes project engineering and management.

Council financial support is provided through appropriations in the Richmond City Budget. This includes appropriations in the Richmond City Budget Capital Improvement Plan, Non-Departmental budgets and Departmental budgets. Funding is predicated on requests made by the Commission and as determined by Council.

Examples of Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission financial investment support, per Fiscal Year (FY), include:

•    FY 2003 - $119,000
For acquisition (purchase) of Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue and freight from the United Kingdom

•    FY 2006 - $35,000
For Richmond Slave Trail Brochure Creation/Printing Phase I of Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Archaeological Assessment

•    FY 2007 - $511,000
For general Commission support ($11,000) and design and construction of the Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statute plaza; erection of the statue; and, the International Unveiling of the Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue

•    FY 2008 - $370,000
For general Commission support ($30,000 - spent $7,748) and for Phase II of Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Archaeological Assessment, which included $155,000 for earthmoving and $35,000 for engineering and stormwater engineering (floodplain and proximity to I-95 berm) and $150,000 for archaeological services to hire a vendor.

•    FY 2009 - $75,000
For general Commission support ($30,000 - spent $5,124) and for development of the Richmond Slave Trail Marker Program; signage and commemorative site; Lumpkin’s Slave Jail; development of conceptual National Slavery Museum; and, paid sponsorship for Symposium at the University of Richmond for the Civil War Sesquicentennial.

•    FY 2010- $6,000
For general Commission support

Additional financial, staff and archeological support has also been provided by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods, and a number of corporate, nonprofit and individual financial sponsors.

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