Making Connections
The Dr. Sullivan and Mrs. Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson Home is now open to visitors in Greenfield Village. The Henry Ford is proud to offer opportunities for community members in Michigan, Alabama and beyond to learn about the home and its stories of the Voting Rights Movement.
Ongoing Initiatives
Library Presentations
Upcoming Events
More details coming soon.
Past Events
- “Doing History: Preserving Family Stories,” March 2026 at Southfield Public Library
- Jackson Home Presentation, August 2025 at Detroit Public Library Wilder Branch
- Jackson Home Presentation, August 2025 at Detroit Public Library Main Branch
- Jackson Home Presentation, July 2025 at Detroit Public Library Parkman Branch
Capturing Oral Histories
To document the Civil Rights Movement, The Henry Ford’s curators are collecting oral histories from people who helped shape its course. These oral histories help tell the story of the Jackson Home and the Selma Voting Rights Movement, as well as stories of social justice through the nationwide Civil Rights Movement.
The Henry Ford has gathered accounts from individuals including:
- Fred Gray, a prominent attorney for the movement who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Claudette Colvin, Rosa Parks and others.
- Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr., who worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in Selma during the early days of the movement.
- Dr. Valda Harris Montgomery, who was 14 years old when she marched in the last leg of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March and whose family assisted during the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
- Nelson Malden, Dr. King’s barber, who was also involved in the movement in Montgomery.
- Rev. Terry Shaw, who had to flee Selma in the middle of the night and made his new home in Detroit.
- Dorothy Dewberry Aldridge, who formed coalitions in Detroit to support the movement in Selma.
Past Events
Greenfield Village Block Party | June 2026
The Henry Ford welcomed the Jackson Home to the Greenfield Village neighborhood with a three-day celebration of community, courage and culture. The block party featured a ribbon cutting ceremony, special programs, Southern-inspired food, musical performances and dance parties, a Black-owned business market and more to mark the historic occasion.
Stand 44 Guest Chef | June 2026
In June 2026, The Henry Ford welcomed Kimberly McNair Brock as our Stand 44 Guest Chef in celebration of the Jackson Home opening. A chef, educator and holistic health coach born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama — and deeply connected to the Civil Rights Movement — Chef Brock brought both lived history and culinary expertise to her residency.
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. | January 2026
The weekend of Martin Luther King. Jr. Day, nearly 20,000 guests gathered at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation throughout three days of special programs, performances and moments of reflection honoring Dr. King, culminating in a day of free museum admission on the national holiday.
Other highlights included the unveiling of the Jackson Home living room chair from which Dr. King watched President Lyndon B. Johnson’s televised “The American Promise” address, as well as a free author talk by Dr. Jeanne Theoharis, historian and New York Times bestselling author of King of the North: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life of Struggle Outside the South. Click here to watch a recording of the program.
Interfaith Leaders Luncheon | December 2025
The Henry Ford welcomed 45 interfaith leaders from the metro Detroit area to learn about the Jackson Home and explore opportunities to collaborate and engage with their communities. We continue to build on these valuable connections and foster meaningful relationships with these partners.
Site Dedication in Greenfield Village | August 2024
As The Henry Ford prepared to move the Jackson Home to its new site on Maple Lane in Greenfield Village, we invited community members to join us for a formal site dedication. Attendees heard remarks from Jawana Jackson, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony and several leaders from The Henry Ford.
The Jackson Home: From Selma to Detroit Panel | August 2024
This free panel discussion at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation contextualized the significance of the Jackson Home, its role in the Civil Rights Movement and its future in Greenfield Village. Esteemed panelists included: Jawana Jackson, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Jonathan Eig and Nelson George. Click here to watch a recording of the panel.
Get Involved and Stay Connected
Stay up to date with the latest news from The Henry Ford by signing up to receive emails about upcoming events, new exhibitions and stories from our collections.
Interested in learning about The Henry Ford’s Community Outreach Program? Email communityoutreach@thehenryford.org.
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