Alabama Bicentennial Commission

The Alabama Bicentennial Commission was created to guide and support the commemoration of the anniversary of Alabama’s statehood. The twelve-member commission is chaired by Senator Arthur Orr of Decatur. Beginning in 2013, the commission established committees to plan and coordinate events and activities centered on education, statewide initiatives, and local activities.

The commission established the non-profit Alabama Bicentennial Foundation to support activities and programs related to the State of Alabama Bicentennial.

Committees

• Advisory Committee: Chaired by Alabama Department of Archives & History director emeritus Ed Bridges, it brings together leadership and members of the bicentennial committees to ensure that plans are comprehensive and complementary.
• Education Committee: Co-chaired by Steve Murray, director of the Alabama Department of Archives & History, and Karen Porter, Program Coordinator for the Alabama Reading Initiative at the Alabama State Department of Education, the Education Committee is charged with developing educational content and projects to promote history education in Alabama K-12 schools. It is also dedicated to engaging higher education institutions, which will play an important role in many projects, as well as through internships, publications, and support of such important resources as the Encyclopedia of Alabama.
• Local Activities Committee: Co-chaired by Carrie Banks, communications director for the Alabama League of Municipalities, and Tami Reist, executive director of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, the Local Activities Committee works with communities, counties, and organizations to establish bicentennial committees and plan projects.
• Statewide Initiative Committee: Co-chaired by Donna Cox Baker, editor-in-chief of Alabama Heritage magazine, and Al Head, executive director of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Statewide Initiatives Committee is charged with planning and supporting traveling exhibitions, statewide commemorations, legacy projects, and other initiatives that serve the entire state.

External Links

• Alabama Bicentennial Committee website