CAIRO, Ill. (KFVS) – Cairo leaders hope the addition of a new Heritage Trail will bring more awareness about the lived experience of Cairo’s black community.

“I think if we want to become a better nation, we need to know each other’s stories,” said Don E. Patton, President of the Cairo Historical Preservation Project.

Friday afternoon, dignitaries cut the ribbon on the trail.

Patton said the project will teach visitors about the town’s history, “I think the cultural heritage part is important, where you tie back to individuals who have accomplished things here in this town and throughout this region.’

Tyrone Coleman heads Alexander/Pulaski Counties NAACP chapter and Cairo Heritage Foundation.

Coleman hopes the new trail will break stigmas about the community he was raised in, “Instead of hearing something from someone else, that’s negative. You can hear it’s kind of like saying, ‘from the horse’s mouth.’”

The project is funded through a $30,000 grant from the Healing Illinois Initiative.

Both Coleman and Patton are looking forward to seeing what this new heritage trail brings to the community.

“People have an opportunity to come and see some of the things that’s going on in the community, past, present, and hopefully future,” Coleman explained.

“We’re very resilient people, and we hope that better things will come,” Patton stated.

Patton said this is just the first phase of the project, and leaders in Cairo will host another ceremony in October.

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