A mission grounded in preservation. A vision for thriving community life. Four program pillars that reinforce each other, and six values that keep us honest.
To preserve and honor the legacy of the Rosenwald educational movement by transforming the Ophelia S. Hill School into a thriving cultural, educational, and civic center that empowers future generations through history, wellness, scholarship, and community engagement.
The Ophelia S. Hill Rosenwald School exists to preserve Black educational heritage while serving as a dynamic community resource that promotes historical awareness, physical wellness, academic achievement, civic engagement, and intergenerational empowerment in Jenifer, Alabama and surrounding communities.
The restored school will operate as four integrated programs under one roof. A student who comes for tutoring may stay for a wellness class. A visiting tourist may leave as a scholarship donor. Each pillar strengthens the others.
A permanent exhibit on the Rosenwald legacy, rotating galleries on Black history in Alabama, oral histories collected from community elders, and a digital archive accessible nationwide.
Youth and senior fitness programming, after-school sports clinics, health screenings in partnership with local providers, and an outdoor space featuring a walking trail and community garden.
After-school tutoring, ACT/SAT prep workshops, FAFSA and college application guidance, HBCU and dual-enrollment partnerships, and the Ophelia S. Hill Scholarship Fund for local students.
Town halls, leadership development workshops, Juneteenth and Black History Month programming, voter education events, and meeting space for local organizations. A living civic anchor.
The school serves a twelve-county region of historic Rosenwald territory.
Every program pillar will deliver specific services to the community. The Programs page breaks each one down in detail, from museum exhibits to tutoring curricula.