The Robert Russa Moton Museum is one of seven museums selected to participate in the inaugural initiative connecting African American museums across the country, offering guidance around increased institutional capacity in the areas of management, mission and governance. This program is a joint initiative of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). The Robert Russa Moton Museum participated in a competitive process and was recently notified it has been chosen to take part in the group.

As part of the NMAAHC StEPs Cohort, staff of the Robert Russa Moton Museum will take part in an orientation meeting in Kansas City on Sept. 26 and then have access to a mentor, online webinars, and other resources for one year. Each organization will also be enrolled in the Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations, or StEPs, a program managed by AASLH. StEPs is a national assessment program that offers small and medium-sized museums, historic sites, and related organizations the opportunity to assess their policies and practices, benchmark themselves against national museum standards, and earn Bronze, Silver and Gold progress certificates. More than 950 organizations across the U.S. have enrolled in the program.

In addition to the Robert Russa Moton Museum the museums chosen are: African American Cultural & Historical Museum of Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor, MI; Black Heritage Society of Washington State, Seattle, WA; Evansville African American Museum, Evansville, IN; Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community, Bridgeport, CT; Northwest African American Museum, Seattle, WA; and National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, Wilberforce, Ohio

Cameron Patterson, Managing Director of the Robert Russa Moton Museum offered the following regarding the museums selection for the program “It is an honor to be selected for participation in this inaugural program. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture and the American Association for State & Local History are two strong organizations to be involved with. We are excited for the opportunities for growth that this program will present the Moton Museum. And we look forward to building relationships with other museums across the country.”