Local Organizations and Cultural Sites

Cultural Sites and Local Organizations

Your Guide to Local and National Race and Equity Learning Experiences 

Better understanding our history surrounding race and equity can start at home. Central Ohio is full of organizations actively working to advance inclusion, justice, and awareness in our communities. Engaging with these organizations offers ways to learn, participate, and make a difference in our own community before exploring broader national narratives.

Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity (The Ohio State University)
A nationally recognized research institute focused on racial equity, structural racism, and inclusive public policy.

Columbus Urban League
Works to empower African Americans and underserved communities through education, workforce development, advocacy, and economic inclusion.

Bexley Minority Parent Alliance
Local to Bexley, the Bexley Minority Parent Alliance supports students and families of color while advocating for equity and inclusion within Bexley schools.

National Sites That Tell the Story of Race in America

Visiting national museums and memorials can deepen understanding of history and its continuing impact. These sites invite reflection, learning, and, sometimes, discomfort—but they also inspire action.

National Museum of African American History & Culture (Washington, D.C.)

Located on the National Mall, the National Museum of African American History & Culture  is the only national museum dedicated exclusively to African American life, history, and culture. Opened in 2016, the museum houses thousands of artifacts that span centuries—from slavery and segregation to the civil rights movement and contemporary Black culture. Its striking bronze-colored design, inspired by African art and architecture, stands out as both a tribute and a statement. Through exhibitions, photographs, documents, and personal stories, the museum presents an unflinching, powerful narrative of struggle, resilience, and achievement.

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice (Montgomery, Alabama)

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, opened in 2018 by the Equal Justice Initiative, is thefirst U.S. memorial dedicated to the legacy of enslaved Black people, those terrorized by lynching, and victims of racial segregation and injustice. Opened in 2018 by the Equal Justice Initiative, the memorial features over 800 steel monuments, each representing a county where a racial terror lynching took place. The suspended columns evoke the image of hanging bodies, forcing a confrontation with a brutal history often ignored. It’s a solemn, powerful space that honors the lives lost and challenges visitors to reckon with the past and its impact on the present.