Cedric Scott is the new director of Corporate Partnerships and Member Services at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
Photo provided by Cedric Scott
Cedric Scott was recently tapped as the new director of Corporate Partnerships and Member Services at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
Scott has over 20 years of marketing experience leading marketing communications for multi-million-dollar media companies and non-profit organizations across diverse industries, including as the CEO/chief strategist at Luminate Agency, a full-service marketing, PR, and design agency.
Scott, who also has a background leading communication efforts at Triumph Church, told the Michigan Chronicle recently that he is “excited” about starting his position, which is a seamless transition from her former role.
Scott, a member of Triumph Church since 2007, said that he came to the ministry and there were 5,000 members; during his work there he helped boost membership numbers dramatically.
“I am really proud of the time we spent there — able to grow that to about over 40,000 members at eight different campuses throughout metro Detroit,” Scott said. “We’re proud that we have done some things in ministry no one has done and shifting to this relationship with the museum is really, really cool.”
He added that he was really involved at the church spearheading various community-driven initiatives. Scott said that he’s transitioning to a similar space by working at the museum and is looking forward to combining partnerships, and doing things in the community and business realm.
“This opportunity became available — really exciting to me,” Scott said, adding that he has always been about community, Black culture and more.
“It is a great opportunity and time to be at a museum; it is important work, that we need to talk about what happened,” Scott said of past injustices, adding that it’s crucial to share what’s “important to our culture.”
Scott, who is celebrating his first month at the museum, said that his role is to collaborate with businesses, universities and other entities that celebrate the “history of African American culture.”
“My position really drives engagement,” Scott said, adding that he is “really honored” about the work he, and others, are doing at the Museum.”
“I’m really honored about this work – it is important for everyone to have clarity; better understanding [about] what came before us,” Scott said, adding that it’s important to have a “good vantage point” of living in the present and “molding lives” as the Museum looks to the future.
Scott added that while looking to the future, a reckoning is apparent with Black culture and history.
“So many people … need to know a little more about African American history and culture – it’s American history, world history,” Scott said, adding that it shouldn’t be separated from the totality of history. “Period. Because African Americans played a dominant role; we can look back to Africa, the beginnings of the United States – things happening in modern-day.”
He added that if people had a greater understanding of history even more than they do now, they would know that it’s important to look at what has happened historically to Black people and look to museums as not just a “treasure box” but a “toolbox” with the understanding that “history is evolving” and should be studied to avoid replicating the same mistakes.
“What we’re living in now is going to be history,” Scott said. “It is important that it has relevancy today… it’s really jarring, too, a lot of the fights we thought would be over or things we thought we successfully ended — folks finding different ways to circle back and present them.”
Scott said it’s important to “be on guard” and pay attention and celebrate history while learning along the way.
“This fight we are fighting never ends — it continues,” he said, adding that the museum is passionate about opening minds and changing lives with history that some people don’t know.
From digital exhibitions featuring augmented reality to upcoming talks about reparations – The Wright has a host of programs taking place that Scott is happy to be a part of.
Germaine Williams, vice president for development at the Wright, said that Scott adds tremendous value to the role.
“Cedric brings incredible experience to the role,” Williams said. “It has been energizing having him on board. The Wright maintains a very special position in Detroit’s history and cultural life. Cedric brings a passion for connecting more people to the Wright, which is critical to us as we slowly emerge from a very challenging period due to the pandemic.”
For more information, visit www.thewright.org.
Email Staff Writer Sherri Kolade story ideas at skolade@michronicle.com.
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