(Black PR Wire) CHICAGO, – this year the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum launched what we are calling “phase three” says founder Dr. Lyn Hughes.  We have just completed our board recruitment process; we now have a brand new board of directors. What’s different? it is diverse in age, ethnicity, professions and skill sets. And the implementation of our plans for 2019 is off to a great start. New board members include veteran music promoter Gus Redmond, legendary Talk Show host, Cliff Kelley, Don Villar, Sect. of the Chicago Federation of Labor and attorney Kevin Waklatsi.

February 2019 marked more than a plethora of Black history month activity; The most significant, it was the month that Chicago, joined a long list of cities, individuals and institutions nationally, and internationally, that acknowledges the existence and the work of Americas first Black labor history museum. The 25-year-old National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum.

On February 20, 2019, the Cook County Board of Commissioners issued an official proclamation acknowledging the 25-year-old public museum and honoring Dr. Lyn Hughes, its founder for establishing the museum.  For over two decades, the institution has used black labor history to awaken the cultural consciousness of individuals, nationwide. 

The entire board of commissioners wanted to be apart of the historic photo. Two of whom are also descendants, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and  6th District Commissioner, Donna Miller.

The timeless legacy of A. Philip Randolph and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (AKA) Pullman Porters contains invaluable lessons that cross age, gender, racial and economic boundaries.

The phenomenal impact of a group of men who under Randolph leadership not only changed the perception of Black men in this country but also built the foundation of the black middle class and opened the doors to the modern day civil rights movement.

Museum president, David Peterson, states “we have some exciting things happening this year. Beginning with the Annual Juneteenth Cultural celebration but this year, occurring simultaneously will be the first Pullman Porter Family Reunion Event. “ Descendants from across the country will be coming to Chicago in June for the historic event.  Stay tuned for details as this phenomenal event unfolds.”

NAPRPPM is a 501 C 3 institution that is not funded by city, state or federal funds, but to date operates on an entrepreneurial model. Since the Museum’s opening, in February of 1995, we have consciously and consistently created opportunities to tell the story of A. Philip Randolph, and the BSCP, and the significant contributions of African-Americans to America’s labor movement stated Dr. Lyn Hughes says. “It began in 2000 with our very first collaboration with Amtrak at Chicago’s union station.  While we have rarely been given credit, our efforts have been the inspiration for countless articles, books, and documentaries;  From Larry Tye, who visited the museum before he began writing Rising From the Rails to Showtime, and the list goes on.

Over the years numerous exhibits have been created about the Pullman Porters, however, to date, the National APR Pullman Porter Museum is the only museum of its kind worldwide that exclusively interprets this important story.

However, the 2003 creation of the Pullman Porter National Historic Registry of African American Railroad Employees was the first occurrence of national recognition for the museum’s work.

In the past, the museum has had amazing opportunities, to help it grow along the way. The successful collaboration with THE SHOWTIME NETWORK working on the original docudrama 10,000 Black Men Named George is just one example. The Museum received film credit for its contributions and hosted the premiere screening, in Chicago; ABC’s Good Morning America was another. These kinds of efforts will be enhanced by the alliance with the National Park Service and the resources that alliance brings.

Despite the two decades of work, nothing could have matched the push the museum received in 2015, when the 44th president Barack Obama, designated, the community where it is located the Pullman as a National Monument; a unit of the National Park Service.

NAPRPPM president, David Peterson stated, “While that designation did not bring financial resources to the museum, it has assisted us with enhanced visibility.  The museum is not operated by the National Park Service. We are what is called a partner site. That means we must still generate our own operating budget, that includes funding of our youth and young adult programs.  However, being a part of a National Park service system can make it possible for that task to be less arduous.

Our goal is to provide programs to preserve the historical documentation of the multiple stories contained in the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (AKA) Pullman Porters. They are lessons of leadership, perseverance, unity, and organization amongst Black men of organized labor.

For more information about the museum visit www.nationalpullmanportermuseum.com