Historic Black Church Program

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"Our intent is to create an archive for all interested churches so that they have a resource to teach the next generation and preserve their history." - Professor Anthony Alfieri, Director, Center for Ethics & Public Service

The program provides multidisciplinary resources in education, law, and social services to underserved residents by establishing congregation-based church partnerships through the West Grove's sixteen-church Ministerial Alliance.

The program offers University of Miami students and faculty opportunities for civic engagement, service-learning, and community-based research and is comprised of the following initiatives:

The program is comprised of the following initiatives:

• The Oral History Film Project compiles oral history archives for church congregations and ministries through film documentaries with the School of Communication and Ransom Everglades High School.
• The Community Education Project provides rights education seminars, capacity-building workshops, and community-based research support to the churches of the Coconut Grove Ministerial Alliance and to local nonprofit organizations. The seminars address the rights and entitlements of children, the elderly, tenants, homeowners, and at-risk families.
• The Lawyer Referral Project coordinates legal assistance referrals in Village West for eligible individuals and qualified nonprofit groups in conjunction with the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr., Bar Association, the School of Law's in-house clinics and Graduate Program in Real Property Development, and South Florida law firms and nonprofit legal services organizations.

In the News

"Historic Black Church Program's Oral History Film Highlights Desegregation of Miami Schools"

"Students' Documentary Probes History of Coconut Grove School, Segregated Community"

"Center for Ethics and Public Service Joins in Applause for Noted Educator"

"Dartmouth College Students Explore Miami Law Ethics Programs"

"Historic Black Church Program Premiers Documentary Film on the Histories of the West Grove Churches"

"Lessons From the Past" Miami Herald