The Aboveground Railroad

The ABOVEGROUND RAILROAD is a scaffolding artwork by Jessica Gaynelle Moss that reimagines philanthropy and giving as an opportunity to simplify access to resources, perpetuate lasting social good and support more equitable funding approaches.

• The ABOVEGROUND RAILROAD SCHOLARSHIP

  was created in 2018 in partnership with Elsewhere Museum in Greensboro, NC. This scholarship supports one Black, NC Triad-based, women-identifying, current high school student, under the age of 18, interested in a career in arts administration.

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• The ABOVEGROUND RAILROAD GRANT AWARD

  was created in 2020 in partnership with The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowment in Pittsburgh, PA. This grant program supports three Pittsburgh-based Black students currently pursuing a degree in higher education towards a career in arts administration with a $10,000 unrestricted award. This funding stream will consider racial and gender equity explicitly, with a strong preference towards students identifying as Black women.

Both programs that make up The ABOVEGROUND RAILROAD provide access, opportunities and financial support to future generations of Black women arts workers and administrators. This work is intended to be a launching pad towards a successful career within the arts industry through unrestricted financial support, opportunities to develop a unique skill set, practical experiences that build upon existing interests, and opportunities to network with professionals across the field.

​​GRANTEES:
Essence Stiggers, Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, 2021
Zachariah Washington, Point Park University, 2021
Abreihona, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2023

The ABOVEGROUND RAILROAD is generously funded by individual donors, The NC Arts Council, The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowment.