Deborah Bowie Shares How BCRI Preserves Birmingham’s CIvil Rights HiStory

RCB President Jeff Stone with Rotarians Alesia Jones and Deborah Bowie

This week, the Rotary Club of Birmingham (RCB) welcomed Deborah Bowie, President & CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI), for a presentation on the institute's mission to preserve Birmingham's pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement while educating future generations. Bowie reflected on the legacy of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, highlighted BCRI's role as part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, and shared how the Institute has welcomed more than four million visitors since opening in 1992. She emphasized that BCRI is more than a museum—it's a research center, educational institution, archive, and community resource dedicated to preserving Birmingham's history.

Bowie discussed the Institute's educational programming, including its Youth Legacy Program, which prepares high school students for civic leadership through the study of Birmingham's civil rights history. She outlined plans to modernize exhibits, expand the use of technology, preserve BCRI's archives, and strengthen partnerships throughout the Civil Rights District to ensure Birmingham's story continues to educate and inspire future generations.

Bio for Deborah Bowie

Deborah Bowie is a nonprofit and public-sector executive with more than two decades of experience leading organizations through growth and change.

She currently serves as the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Immediately prior, she was a director in the Ginsberg Center for Access and Community Engagement at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Deborah has served as a City Manager for the City of Gainesville, also in Florida; President and CEO of United Way of North Central Florida, as well as her prior role as Chief of Staff to former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford.

Deborah holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Xavier University of Louisiana and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Central Florida. She is the mother of four, including a set of triplets who are now 17 years old. 

Deborah was most recently a member of Rotary Club of Oviedo.