The Challenge

Edge Media was asked to serve as a committee member on the Center for African-American History, Art and Culture development board to resurrect a local historic landmark and make it the new home of CAAHAC. The Immanuel Institute building was the education center for children of former slaves after the Civil War. In 2004, a visionary group of local citizens wanted to restore the building and create a cultural center that would preserve the legacy of the local African-Americans and create a nexus of art, history, culture and celebration for the community. We needed to create a compelling message that would educate Aiken citizens, regardless of race, about our collective history and also excite future donors about the types of cultural and educational programs that the center would attract.

The Solution

Edge proposed a video to tell the story of Immanuel’s place in our local history and demonstrate what an asset a cultural center could be to the community. To define our shared past, we obtained numerous archival photographs of Immanuel’s students and Aiken residents, Civil War footage and architectural drawings of the restored and expanded facility. To clarify where we wanted to go, the committee solicited the help of Pulitzer Prize-winning jazz musician, Wynton Marsalis. To Marsalis, a center like this brings people closer, “ The more that we know about each other….the more we see how people’s lives are intertwined.”

The result is a stirring five-minute fundraiser that leaves the viewer reminded that understanding our shared heritage is vital to our forward progress.