New African American Museum of Iowa leader wants to uphold mission, increase visibility

CEDAR RAPIDS ­- In her role as the new executive director, LaNisha Cassell hopes to create more visibility and statewide relevance for the African American Museum of Iowa, while maintaining a mission to preserve, exhibit and teach black heritage throughout the state.

Cassell, who has served as deputy director of the Cedar Rapids museum for the past year, takes over Wednesday - as Black History Month begins - as the museum's leader, succeeding Thomas Moore.

Moore, the founder of the museum, is retiring.

'I love the mission of the organization and I wanted to be a part of the next level of the museum,” said Cassell, 43.

Cassell said she hopes to create partnerships with organizations across the Corridor for learning opportunities. As examples, she cited shows at Theatre Cedar Rapids and Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre that tie into the museum's mission.

Another goal is to explore the relevance of the museum in the community.

'We're trying to really find out from the community, instead of relying on what we think people want,” she said.

Generally, museums are becoming involved in more social justice issues such as racism, Cassell said. However, she said her organization isn't taking specific stands on issues; rather, leaders see it as an educational resource.

'People want background information, and we're here to provide that,” she said. 'We maintain the mission to preserve, to exhibit, to teach African American heritage in Iowa, but that's not to say we aren't looking at expanding that mission in the future.

'We want to be relevant, and if people are looking for something from us, then we might want to consider how we can provide that resource as well,” she added.

Moore said he plans to stick around in an advisory role and to help train Brianna Kim, a curator at the museum who is taking over as director of operations on Feb. 7. He said he plans to work as a full-time volunteer after that and is excited to see the museum go to a new level under Cassell's leadership.

'I really think her attitude and her energy, her extrovert features, I think, will serve her well with the community relations,” Moore said. 'I'm encouraged to have someone who's very outgoing, open minded, interested in the betterment of the state and getting the board more involved.”

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Maryland, Cassell attended college at Frostburg State University in Maryland and obtained degrees in English and public relations.

She met her husband, Karl Cassell, president of Horizons, in Washington, D.C. They have two children. The couple moved to Cedar Rapids, and LaNisha Cassell went to work for the Marion Independent School Foundation and Alumni Association - a job she held for 11 years.

Last year, the African American Museum of Iowa began a search to replace Moore, who had come out of retirement in 2014 following the resignation of Michael Kates.

'I did get notified that they were looking and I wasn't looking for a new job,” said Cassell. 'I was perfectly comfortable in what I was doing and content, but when the opportunity came, I considered it and said, ‘You know, this might be the time.' ”

She was hired, and started at the museum as deputy director one year ago.

Having grown up on the East Coast, Cassell said she is used to interacting in diverse communities.

'I take a lot of things for granted because ... I'm used to being around different cultures and different ethnicities and I didn't feel like I was lacking that,” she said. 'It took having children in a place like Iowa to see that I should be a little bit more proactive in educating.”

The African American Museum of Iowa was founded by a small group from the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids in 1993 and moved into its current facility, located at 55 12th Ave. SE, in 2003.

The organization has permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as a research library; provides presentations and events across Iowa; and offers nine traveling exhibits that focus on topics such as African Americans in the military, the Underground Railroad in Iowa and the development of African American Music.

The museum also is host to youth and adult programming services, enabling groups to tour the exhibits and learn about African American history.

l Comments: (319) 368-8536; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com

If You Go

' What

: African American Museum of Iowa

' Where

: 55 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids.

' Hours

: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

' Admission

: $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $2.50 for students and youth, free for children younger than age 5.

' Info: blackiowa.org or (319) 862-2101.

' Upcoming events

:

- Invisible Hawkeyes, a discussion with authors Lena and Michael Hill - 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, Cedar Rapids Barnes & Noble.

- Family Fun Day, a free event for all ages - Noon, Saturday, Feb. 4, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

- Cedar Rapids's Black History, 1865-1915 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, African American Museum of Iowa.

- Black Women in Sequence, a presentation on a book written by Deborah Whaley - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, St. Ambrose University, Davenport.

- Author Chat with Ayana Mathis - Noon, Saturday, Feb. 18, African American Museum of Iowa.

- Lean and Play STEM Activities, for children ages 5 and up - 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, African American Museum of Iowa.