On Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at 10:00 am, The Fannie Lou Hamer Institute @ COFO will unveil a COFO freedom trail marker. The Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) has been awarded a historic designation on the Mississippi Freedom Trail. The Mississippi Freedom Trails program is a program of Visit Mississippi (Mississippi Development Authority/Division of Tourism) that celebrates and honors sites in the state of Mississippi that hold historical significance. This is a special honor for Jackson State University because it will be one of a few institutions serving as the home to two markers.
As one of the most visible programs of the Mississippi Historical Commission (MHC), historical markers commemorate diverse topics, including the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations, and military sites. The program also honors events that changed the course of local and state history and individuals who contributed to our state, community organizations, and businesses. The COFO Building is on the national register of historic places; COFO served as the umbrella organization for civil rights organizations working in Mississippi during the mid-1960s. It’s headquarters located at 1017 John R. Lynch Street was the location of the office for the Mississippi Movement from 1963 to 1965. “Jackson State University committed to saving this national treasure from dilapidation, renovated the interior and exterior, and re- opened the COFO Building in 2011 as a Civil Rights Education Center, symbolizing the university's commitment to historic preservation.” – Dr. Rico D. Chapman, Director, Fannie Lou Hamer Institute @ COFO, Human & Civil Rights Education Center
