Monroe earns microgrant for Underground Railroad education programs
Area residents can learn more about Monroe's connection to the Underground Railroad this February.
Monroe was one of four Michigan cities to receive a Main Street Microgrant from the Michigan Municipal League Foundation. The Main Street grants are part of the foundation's 2022 Bridge Builders Microgrants program, which also included 10 Neighborhood Microgrants. Recipients were announced Tuesday.
All the awards, the foundation said, “offer small, one-time grants to people or organizations within Michigan Municipal League member communities. Projects are intentionally collaborative, bringing together neighbors, artists, business owners, elected officials and more.”
Main Street Microgrant award are for up to $5,000 each.
Monroe's project, “Discover the Underground Railroad Monroe,” was proposed by Monroe Councilman Andrew Felder. Several Monroe County organizations and individuals wrote letters of support. The public voted on nine finalists in August.
“Andrew Felder spearheaded this, and he connected with the library and our neighbors, the museum,” Claire Bechard, River Raisin Centre for the Arts’ associate director, said.
"Discover the Underground Railroad" will offer three events in downtown Monroe that will explore the city’s role in the Underground Railroad. Events will include a dramatic reading for children at Dorsch Memorial Branch Library, an evening lecture at Monroe County Museum and a performance on the spirit of Harriet Tubman at the RRCA. Monroe’s Dorsch Memorial Branch Library was once a stop on the Underground Railroad.
The other three recipients of Main Street grants were: ARTificial Intelligence in Flint, La Esquina Nighttime Marketplace in Detroit and Magic Carpet and Music in the Courtyard in Bridgman.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe earns microgrant for Underground Railroad education programs
