The latest on a Black Voice and History museum in downtown Fayetteville

BY LEXI SOLOMON | CityView Staff

Cumberland County commissioners will hear more about efforts to bring a Black culture museum to downtown Fayetteville at their regular meeting Monday.

According to a March 12 memorandum from the County Attorney’s Office, the board of commissioners will consider a resolution affirming the Community Development Foundation’s support of the project. The Community Development Foundation is a nonprofit that supports economic development throughout Cumberland County, according to the proposed resolution. 

The board voted Jan. 16 to approve a preliminary contract with the Community Development Foundation to build a Black Voice and History Museum, CityView previously reported. Under the terms of the contract, the city of Fayetteville and the county will each provide $450,000 for the project for a total budget of $900,000.

“This project would further the transformation of downtown Fayetteville, expand area economic activity, provide educational programming, support racial reconciliation, foster extensive community engagement, and elevate our community as a thought leader within the DC-Charleston Civil Rights History Corridor,” the proposed resolution states.

According to a proposed list of deliverables from the Community Development Foundation, by the end of June 2025, the foundation should provide:

• A summary of findings from community engagement about ideas for the museum
• A study on the museum’s feasibility and economic impact
• Programming ideas
• An early concept image
• A proposed job description for the museum’s executive director
• Proposed business and funding plans
• An “inventory of local Black History assets, artifacts, knowledge keepers and chronological listing of prominent events”

In other business:

• The board will consider nominations for three vacancies on the Civic Center Commission, four vacancies on the Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Commission, a vacancy on the Joint Fort Liberty & Cumberland County Food Policy Council and a vacancy on the Cape Fear Valley Board of Trustees.
• The board will consider appointing Sigma Smith to the Cumberland County Home and Community Care Block Grant Committee. Commissioners unanimously voted to nominate Smith at their Feb. 19 meeting.
• The board will consider appointing Eastover Mayor Charles McLaurin to the Mid-Carolina Aging Advisory Council. Commissioners unanimously voted to nominate McLaurin at their Feb. 19 meeting.
• The board will consider appointing Joey Short to the Farm Advisory Board. Commissioners unanimously voted to nominate Short at their Feb. 19 meeting.

The board will meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday at the Cumberland County Courthouse.

Reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at lsolomon@cityviewnc.com or 910-423-6500.

This story was made possible by contributions to CityView News Fund, a 501c3 charitable organization committed to an informed democracy.