New Bedford Historic Parks Receives Impact Grant

The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, is proud to award New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park a 2012 Impact Grant to support the launch of Having Our Say: From Civil War to Civil Rights, a project that will gather information of the African American experience in the local community of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Each interview will be digitally recorded and transcribed and will become part of the National Park’s Oral History Collection. The grant is part of the National Park Foundation’s Impact Grant program which gives parks the critical financial support needed to transform innovative, yet underfunded ideas into successful in-park programs and initiatives.

“We are very excited about this project. It’s an excellent opportunity to capture the lives of a vibrant community that has made great contributions to both the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement in the City of New Bedford,” said Janine V. da Silva, Cultural Resource specialist.

Jasmine A. Utsey, oral historian, will serve as the project investigator gathering stories related to the African American experience in the local community of New Bedford, Massachusetts. She will conduct professional oral history interviews with ten individuals identified by the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park for their knowledge of important historical information pertaining to the 100 year period between the Civil war and the Civil Rights era, “With these strategic grants, we have been able to positively impact hundreds of national parks across the country,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “This unique program helps the parks enhance the visitor experience, engaging more people, and ultimately building a stronger community of park enthusiasts who share an appreciation and commitment to protecting America’s Best Idea, their national parks.”

The National Park Foundation, in partnership with ARAMARK through the Yawkey Foundation, The Fernandez Pave the Way Foundation and The HISTORY Channel, awarded Impact Grant grants to 62 national parks across the country totaling more than $500,000.
A full list of grantees is available on the National Park Foundation website.