PAHMUSA
1500 Main Street
Tower Square Floor 2
Springfield, MA 01115
(413) 779-5571
Pahmusa1619@gmail.com

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
PAHMUSA houses a unique collection of print materials to support the artifacts on display. Education plays a huge part in our programming offerings. Since 1991, the founding members of PAHMUSA’S intention was to bring the little-known history of Black Americans to the classroom. Alliances with community schools are too many to name. However, PAHMUSA played a pivotal role in educating students through school visits, on-site tours and activities, teacher training, trips to Africa, fashion shows, and a re-enactment of Timbuktu. Visit our photo gallery to see more.
TEACH TO REACH
PAHMUSA houses a unique collection of print materials to support the displayed artifacts. Education and outreach play a massive part in the programming. Since 1991, the founding members of PAHMUSA’S intention was to bring the little-known history of Black Americans to the classroom. Alliances with community schools and community institutions provide an outlet to extend Pahmusa's influence beyond the walls of its downtown location. PAHMUSA plays a pivotal role in educating students through scheduled tours, visits to the museum, docent programs, trips to Africa, fashion shows, dramatic and poetry presentations, music, and theatre. Pahmusa has taken the lead in offering programs to celebrate Black History Month, Kwanzaa, Juneteenth, and interfaith gatherings. Most importantly, Pahmusa is where African and Black American history and culture converge to help paint a picture of the more than four-hundred-year struggle for equality. Symposiums on economics, mental health, substance abuse, Black male disempowerment, police brutality, and poverty are a few of the many workshops, panel discussions, and community forums offered by Pahmusa. We see the effects of this trauma being played out in cities across America every day. Crime, substance abuse, self-destructive behaviors, broken families, illiteracy, mental health disorders, homelessness, poverty, hunger, and a strict sense of feeling lost and without purpose. Society has attributed some negative behaviors to “Black Culture” and deemed them okay. Unaware of the consequences of habitual self-degradation, generation after generation has been unable or unwilling to break the shackles of oppression. PAHMUSA enhances community mindfulness. No longer can one say, “we do not know,” after visiting PAHMUSA. Timely cultural and historical programming with qualified experts shares relevant information. Pahmusa significantly impacts the economic and health status of our community.

WE RISE TOGETHER
CULTURE and MULTI-CULTURAL PROGRAMMING As a historical and art museum, PAHMUSA serves schools, community centers, local businesses, colleges, and universities. We welcome companies and vendors who want to use the culturally stimulating space to host special activities. The caring and sharing attitude cultivated here embraces the mantra, “our house is your house.” PAHMUSA benefits from this mindset. Attendance has grown over 300% since 1991; now, 25% of visitors travel from outside the Connecticut Valley and are ethnically diverse. PAHMUSA has gained a stellar reputation for offering quality programming. The community relies upon PAHMUSA to support and enhance the community's cultural needs. PAHMUSA promotes local professional and upcoming artists who would otherwise not have a venue for sharing their socially conscious works. Poets, rap artists, writers, craft workers, cooks, dancers, actors, musicians, healers, professors, storytellers, and gospel singers have been able to find a voice and an audience to share their unique perspectives in an open forum at PAHMUSA. This is a venue like no other. It takes years to build trust and alliances. It takes human labor and dedication to nurture these relationships. Bridge building is a conscious effort. PAHMUSA is in the business of cultivating, supporting, and, in some cases, developing talent. For many, a visit to PAHMUSA is the first time being in a museum. This statement refers to people of all ages.
WHAT DOES PAHMUSA'S ADINKRA SYMBOL MEAN?
Gye Nyame indicates the recognition of the supremacy of God over all beings and therefore is the one that is feared and revered by all. This is one of the many Adinkra symbols of West Africa, Ghana, and is used by the Akan people in various decorations, clothing, and artwork.