MDAH partners with Jackson Public Schools to provide educational tours through GEAR UP Initiative

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), in partnership with Jackson Public Schools (JPS), will provide educational tours for seven years to JPS students at the Two Mississippi Museums, Eudora Welty House & Garden, and the archival collection housed at the William F. Winter Archives and History Building as part of the district’s new federally funded GEAR UP initiative.

Through the partnership, students will have opportunities to explore Mississippi history and culture while connecting classroom learning to their own lives, communities and future educational and career goals.

“We are excited to partner with Jackson Public Schools through the GEAR UP grant and to connect students with the rich history and cultural resources available through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History,” said Kari Baker, MDAH director of programs and education. “This partnership gives MDAH an important opportunity to engage directly with Jackson students, introduce them to Mississippi’s many stories, and demonstrate how history connects to their own lives and futures.”

Jackson Public Schools is beginning implementation of a seven-year GEAR UP — Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs — initiative supported by a $10.67 million federal grant. The program is designed to help participating students explore careers, prepare for college and develop plans for life after high school.

The initiative was formally announced during a press conference featuring JPS Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene and representatives from several GEAR UP partners, including MDAH, Jackson State University and Hinds Community College.

“It’s very exciting to have all these partnerships supporting this initiative,” Greene said. “It is my hope that we can empower these students to go after their goals.”

The GEAR UP initiative will follow participating students from middle school through high school graduation and into their first year of postsecondary education. Students will receive sustained support through academic preparation, career exploration, college exposure, mentoring and family engagement.

The federal GEAR UP program provides six- or seven-year grants to states and partnerships working to increase the number of low-income students prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The program emphasizes early intervention, academic preparation and guidance on higher education opportunities and financing.

MDAH’s participation in the initiative will introduce Jackson students to the state’s history through educational experiences at the Two Mississippi Museums, which include the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

For more information about the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, visit MDAH online.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is the state agency responsible for collecting, preserving and providing access to the archival resources and historic places that tell Mississippi’s story. MDAH operates the Two Mississippi Museums, historic sites and other cultural resources across the state.

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