Mellon Foundation Awards $500,000 grant to Enhance “Voices of Grambling” Digital Equity Project
The Mellon Foundation has awarded a $500,000 grant to support the “Voices of Grambling: Scaling Digital Equity Projects,” an initiative aimed at enhancing the understanding and interpretation of African American history through advanced digital technology. This funding will allow for the expansion of the experiential learning lab and the creation of a sustainable version 2.0 of the “Voices of Grambling” immersive virtual-reality experience, which overlays oral histories and primary sources onto a digital reconstruction of the historic 1967 campus protest at Grambling State University (GSU).
Dr. Edward Holt, the project leader and head of the History Department at GSU, along with Yanise Days and Dr. Brian McGowan, who is heading the effort at the University of Arkansas, will lead the project.
“The ‘Voices of Grambling’ initiative was created following two tragedies: the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of our old University Library. The library and the pandemic represent the loss of knowledge of the past through the physical materials and the individuals who remembered it. Rather than allow information about the history of GSU and Northern Louisiana to continue to disappear, we started this project as a means to preserve the history of GSU, the city of Grambling, and Northern Louisiana, while providing high-quality experiential learning opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Holt.
Importantly, the digital library that has been constructed serves as a foundation for this preservation work, ensuring that further stories about Grambling State University and the region do not vanish when no one remains to remember them. The new Digital Library and Learning Commons opened in August 2024.
In 1967, students at GSU protested as part of the larger Black campus movement, which advocated for changes in living conditions and intellectual offerings at the university, such as more comprehensive teaching of African American history and culture. This movement resulted in challenges to academic freedom, including the expulsion of students and the firing of faculty. While the Black campus movement is well-documented in larger urban settings, there has been little focus on these movements in rural areas. This project will incorporate previously recorded oral histories and facilitate the discovery, recording, and editing of new participants’ accounts of these events. The initiative aims to create a timeline through these oral histories, combined with available lawsuit depositions.
The project aims to produce several key deliverables, including an interactive VR Immersive Environment of the 1967 campus protest, two workshops focused on digital equity and Black freedom movements, a public lecture series around the themes of the project, two national conference presentations, and twelve student internships to assist in the development of the above work.
“The project thrives due to its use of student-centered experiential learning to work on real historical problems. Students work side-by-side with faculty to conduct research, render 3D models, and code the immersive experience,” Dr. Holt said.
The “Voices of Grambling” project is a multi-phase initiative that has received previous funding from various organizations, including the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). These contributions have been critical in establishing the groundwork for the current grant.
“Grants from the LEH, SSRC, NEH, and Lepage Center were essential to our project as they allowed us to build the intellectual and material capacity to do this work,” Dr. Holt said.
Digital equity is a vital component of this project, aiming to provide equitable access to digital technologies and interdisciplinary training for historically underrepresented groups. The initiative seeks to ensure that marginalized voices are included in the historical record and empowered through community-based relationships.
“Equity is at the core of Grambling’s motto, ‘Where everybody is somebody,’ and the ‘Voices of Grambling’ embodies this through our dual aims of belonging in community partnerships and knowledge of digital technologies,” said Dr. Holt. The initiative seeks to ensure that marginalized voices are included in the historical record and empowered through community-based relationships.
The twelve student internships included in the project are designed to provide valuable skills and experiences.
“Due to the Mellon funding, we have been able to increase the number of student interns and will recruit from departments throughout the two universities (Art, Engineering, Computer Science, History, etc.) in order to create interdisciplinary teams that represent what students might encounter in the workforce,” Dr. Holt said.
Looking ahead, the leaders of the project are optimistic about its long-term impact.
“I have always considered the history department and the ‘Voices of Grambling’ initiative a hidden gem on campus,” said Dr. Holt. “With the Mellon funding, we hope to position ourselves as a point of pride for the University to not only attract students to our campus but enable them to thrive in the workforce upon graduation.” The project aims to document research and experiences that contribute to national conversations on African American history, campus protests, and social justice.
The grant will enable the continuation of workshops, lecture series, and research dissemination, fostering a greater understanding of these critical issues.
“Over the last couple of years, we have brought nearly twenty-five speakers to campus in order to connect the work that we are doing with national conversations,” Dr. Holt said. “This grant allows us to continue that work of telling our story through our digital model of the 1967 campus protest.”
For Dr. Holt, the “Voices of Grambling” initiative represents a significant step towards preserving and amplifying the voices of historically marginalized communities, particularly in the context of African American history and digital equity.
“With the support of the Mellon Foundation, this project not only aims to enhance educational opportunities for students but also seeks to engage and empower local communities,” said Dr. Holt. “Through collaborative efforts and innovative technology, the initiative aspires to create a more inclusive narrative that reflects the rich history of Grambling State University and its surrounding areas.”
About The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Since 1969, the Foundation has been guided by its core belief that the humanities and arts are essential to human understanding. The Foundation believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom that can be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. Learn more at mellon.org.
About Grambling State University
Grambling State University combines the academic excellence of a major institution with the supportive atmosphere of a close-knit community, creating an environment where students are empowered to innovate, lead, and make a meaningful impact. We’re not just an HBCU—we’re trailblazers. As the first and only HBCU with a digital library, we’re breaking boundaries and building a future that celebrates collaboration, community, and curiosity.
Grambling State opens doors for those driven by purpose and a commitment to create legacies that endure. Here, success thrives in a community where each person’s unique strengths are recognized and celebrated. With a focus on building transformative partnerships and sustaining a strong foundation, we’re advancing elite programs and expanding our reach to ensure lasting impact.
Founded in 1901 in Grambling, Louisiana, the university offers 46 undergraduate and graduate programs across a historic 590-acre campus. Known for world-class athletics, an internationally acclaimed marching band, and vibrant student life, Grambling State encourages students to explore diverse pathways and embrace endless possibilities. Our ethos—Where Everybody is Somebody—captures the spirit of who we are and the legacy we continue to build together. Learn more at www.gram.edu.