A Michigan 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation
About the Institute
An opportunity for Kalamazoo
Abraham Lincoln's legacy of character, achievement and leadership has tremendous potential as an educational model for instructing young minds. Everything from ethics and elocution to the value of literacy and the importance of hard work, honesty, and personal responsibility can be drawn from the life of Lincoln. The values of equality, fairness, justice, and mercy are all illustrative of the Lincoln legacy.
Our aim is to capture the imagination of young people and encourage them to pursue excellence inspired by the example of our nation's 16th president.
A 3-point plan
Abraham Lincoln's 1856 visit and speech in Bronson Park offers Kalamazoo the good fortune to transform a unique historical asset into an ongoing educational enrichment. Moreover, Kalamazoo's Lincoln connection provides fertile ground for developing inclusive studies that encompass issues of race in America. Recognizing this, three interrelated educational components are proposed:
1. Place a privately-funded instructive commemorative bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln in Kalamazoo's Bronson Park;
2. Promote educational programs instructive of Lincoln's 1856 visit;
3. Explore ways to foster leadership development inspired by the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln with a focus on youth.
