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Est. Rosenwald Era Jenifer, Alabama

Honoring the Past. Educating the Future.

The Ophelia S. Hill Rosenwald School once educated generations of Black children in rural Alabama. Today, we are restoring it. We are transforming the building into a museum, a wellness center, a scholarship hub, and a gathering place for the community it first served a century ago.

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Short Film · The Ophelia S. Hill Story Click play to watch with sound
~5,000
Rosenwald schools
built 1913–1932
700K+
Black students
educated across the South
12
Alabama counties
in our service area
4
Integrated
program pillars
The Building The campus, wide view of the long central wing and gymnasium at dusk
A Legacy, Standing Still

A building that built a community.

Between 1913 and 1932, a partnership between Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald built nearly 5,000 schoolhouses across the rural South. These were places where Black children could learn at a time when most states refused to fund their education.

The Ophelia S. Hill Rosenwald School in Jenifer, Alabama, was one of those sanctuaries. Its classrooms raised teachers, nurses, ministers, mechanics, soldiers, and parents. Its walls still stand, and the community that remembers what happened inside them is ready to bring the building back to life.

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A Promise

"The people who built this school believed that every child deserved a place to learn. We are keeping their promise."

Explore the Project

Every part of the restoration, explained.

Our Story
The Rosenwald movement, the school's history, and why this restoration matters now. Includes a short film on the project.
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The Vision
Mission, vision, core values, and the four program pillars that will anchor the restored school's life.
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Programs & Services
What the museum, wellness center, academic programs, and civic events will actually offer the community.
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The Plan
Strategic goals, facilities work, and a phased three-year financial plan built on grants, giving, and earned revenue.
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Gallery
Photographs of the school as it stands today: the exterior, the classrooms, and the grounds we intend to bring back.
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Partner With Us
Ways to give, grant priorities, and a direct line to our team. Where the work meets the people who fund it.
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An Invitation

Help us bring this school back to life.

Your partnership restores a piece of American educational history and creates a living institution that will serve children, elders, and families in rural Alabama for generations to come.

See How to Give → Read Our Story