Public history is the discipline of presenting historical facts, knowledge, and ideas to a broad public, often unencumbered by financial constraints, rather than simple to academics or in academic circles. We, at the Institute for Common Power, are fully immersed in the work of using history to catalyze people to action. To this end, we seek to bring as many people into the fold of our work as possible. We work to bring history outside of the conventional confines of a classroom, university, or other similar spaces and extend the power of history and our associated programming to a national and international audience. 

Our Impact

Public history truly defines much of what we do at the Institute.  Our lectures, workshops, and vision conversations are free to the public; however, our work in the discipline of public history extends far beyond this:

• Trading cards: We continuously create trading cards that feature heroes and events from the Modern Civil Rights Movement. The cards are featured in Common Power’s Selma building (we currently give away hundreds of cards each month from this location), Common Power’s Seattle headquarters, and the Northwest African American Museum. Each card features a short description of the person or event on one side, with pictures on the other. They all feature a QR code for our website. Educators from across the country are using these in their classrooms. These cards provide us with the ability to educate the masses while drawing people to our work.

Marker honoring the foot soldiers who courageously brought attention to voter discrimination against African Americans. The idea for the marker came from Jo Ann Bland.

• Historical Markers:  Individuals and organizations have recently started courting our expertise to write historical markers about dismissed or underrepresented aspects of history. The markers bring messages of perseverance, hope, and resilience to broad audiences.

• Exhibits: We recently installed an exhibit, entitled “The Long Struggle for Voting Rights,” in our Selma auditorium.  The exhibit tells the story of how and why Selma, Alabama helped deliver to the nation the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Since its installation in the summer of 2025, hundreds of people have viewed it and the number grows each day. We are currently working on additional exhibits that will be featured outdoors.  

• Publication:  Intended for a broad audience, the Institute’s forthcoming publication, Reclaiming Democracy:  A History of Voter Suppression and a Handbook for Voter Empowerment, tells the story of how African Americans were disenfranchised and the measures they and others have taken to make sure democracy applies to all.  It includes the work of scholars, civil rights foot soldiers, and others as we seek to make the work appeal to youth and adults. Over the next two years, we seek to advertise the volume widely as all proceeds will go to the work of the Institute.

• Curriculum: Through partnerships with educators, we have created, and made available for free, lectures, PowerPoints, and lesson plans that can be used in k-12 classrooms, community centers, and other places where young people grow, learn, and flourish. This curriculum is featured on our website and used by people from around the world. Most of the topics related to the histories of BIPOC people.

• And more…