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lansingchamber.org DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Local Business/Real Estate Developer Joel Ferguson’s

Success Story Entered Into Library of Congress

he nation's largest African American video oral up in a neighborhood where we all had one thing in
history archival institution traveled to Lansing common: nothing. We all had nothing, and that's why
Tin March to conduct a five-hour interview with it's so important that I never forget where I came from.
Joel Ferguson of Ferguson Development. Joel and his I hope to continue giving back and inspiring others for
long list of accomplishments are extremely impressive. as long as I can – being able to help others is why I do
Still, not many people know the full story of how he what I do."
played several key roles
and influenced many
business and political
decisions along the
way, ultimately resulting
in positive change for
future generations. As
one of Michigan's most
successful African
American entrepreneurs,
Joel has paved the path
for so many others and is
still very passionate about
helping people in any way
that he can.

"HistoryMakers is
committed to preserving
and making widely
accessible the untold
personal stories of well-
known and unsung
African Americans.
HistoryMakers enlightens,
entertains, and educates
the public, helping to refashion a more inclusive record Since its inception, HistoryMakers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
of American history," said Julieanna L. Richardson, headquartered in Chicago, has grown to become the
founder and CEO of HistoryMakers. nation's largest African American video oral history
archive. With education as its mission, this one-of-a-
Businessman and developer, Joel Ferguson was born kind collection is housed permanently at the Library
in 1938 to Josephine and Rollin Ferguson of Lansing, of Congress. It provides an unprecedented and
Michigan. He quickly became a business trailblazer irreplaceable physical and online record of African
as he was elected to the Lansing City Council in 1967, American lives, accomplishments, and contributions
and was the youngest and first African American through unique first-person testimony.
elected. Ferguson's real estate development properties
now house the majority of Lansing residents, and he To date, the HistoryMakers Digital Archive is available
has four multi-million-dollar developments being to 160 colleges, universities (Harvard, Yale, Princeton,
built throughout Michigan. Ferguson was recently Stanford, MSU, Howard, Spelman, Morehouse, Ohio
celebrated at a star-studded gala held at Michigan State, University of Oregon, etc.), K-12 schools, and
State University (MSU) Stadium. His friends, family, and public libraries (Chicago, New York, Cleveland, Houston,
peers shared inspiring stories of him as they honored Los Angeles, etc.) for educational use by faculty,
his work as the longest-serving MSU Board of Trustees students, and patrons. The HistoryMakers Digital
member. Archive will explain who we are as Americans, where we
have come from, and where we are going as a nation
Joel Ferguson shared his thoughts about the interview, now and well into the future.
"I'm just happy they found my story interesting enough
that they wanted to include it in history archives. I grew For more information, visit www.thehistorymakers.org. l

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