Construction fencing surrounds the perimeter of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights to make way for the $56 million, 24,000-square-foot expansion of the living museum. 

It is a pivotal moment for the Center. 

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, who has served as the Center’s board chair for most of its existence, has stepped down from that role and is handing the reigns to Egbert Perry, CEO of the Integral Group who has been on the board since the Center’s inception.

“Hallelujah!” Franklin laughed during an interview on March 8 at the Center.

Perry chimed in: “If she’s this excited, should I be depressed?”

In all seriousness, Perry and Franklin shared their excitement for the Center’s next chapter and how it will expand its role as a place to shine the light on democracy, human rights and conflict resolution — all from its home base in Atlanta. 

“It has authenticity,” Perry added. “No one has permission to do that more than Atlanta.”

The Center opened in June 2014 after nearly a decade of planning with delays and slow fundraising caused by the Great Recession. As a result, plans for the Center had to be scaled back, but leaders always wanted to fully build out the Center that was initially envisioned.

Shortly after Jill Savitt became the Center’s president and CEO on March 11, 2019, expanding the Center became a priority. The COVID pandemic and the economic downturn didn’t help.

“We had a collective dream to build an institution that spoke to Atlanta’s history,” said A.J. Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress and vice chair of the Center. “Our timing has never been good, but we have raised $52 million [for the expansion.] I think we are gaining momentum to be what we always wanted the…