Remembering Dikembe Mutombo

The National Constitution Center is mourning the loss of humanitarian, NBA legend, and NCC Trustee, Dikembe Mutombo, who passed away last week.

In his honor, NCC president and CEO, Jeffrey Rosen shared a remembrance of his life, legacy, and time with the NCC in The Atlantic.

“In 2009, after 18 years in the NBA, Mutombo retired from the Houston Rockets and joined the board of the National Constitution Center...He joined at the invitation of President Bill Clinton...I came to know him as our most recognizable celebrity. He was physically impossible to miss, and walking with him to board meetings, I was struck by how many people would stop him in the street and ask for selfies, often re-creating the signature finger wag he’d employed on the court after blocking opponents’ shots. Mutombo was always gracious, taking the time to sign every autograph and smile for every photo.”

Mutombo chose to give 15 years of service to the National Constitution Center because he was grateful for the opportunities of citizenship that the Constitution gave him.

Virtual Museum Experiences for Students

The Story of We the People:

Election Connections

Tuesday, October 29 | Noon ET

Students can join us live as we highlight Election Connections in our main exhibit, The Story of We the People. We’ll take a look at Article II of the Constitution, exploring how we select our presidents through the lens of some famous historic elections, the constitutional requirements for the job, and the duties of the president once they take office. We’ll also look at what the Constitution says about voting rights, how these rights have changed over time, and conclude with an insider look at the different ways in which people have cast their ballots over the centuries and current voting systems today.

Featured Professional Learning Session

Elections and Voting Rights

Wednesday, October 16 | 6:30 p.m. ET

In this session, educators will explore the right to vote throughout history and work to answer several key questions about voting rights in America. Join us as scholar Paula Monopoli addresses the following questions: Where does the Constitution protect the right to vote? What role did the amendment process play in shaping voting rights? What has the Supreme Court said about the right to vote over time?

We will also look at important ways to engage students in civil dialogue about current events and modern questions for classroom application.

Are you interested in booking a private professional learning session? The Education Team provides free professional learning to educator communities around the country. Email [email protected] to learn more.

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