;

Current Issues Blog

Discover new resources and teaching techniques to help you discuss current issues in the classroom!

Makda Kalayu

Makda Kalayu currently works as a Program Instructor at the Close Up Foundation. She attended Hollins University in Roanoke, VA where she received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Studio Art. Before joining Close Up in 2024, Makda worked as a college access coach in Portland, OR for an education nonprofit.

Posts by Makda Kalayu:

Civil Rights & Individual Liberties

Should the Federal Government Influence How Museums Present American History?

April 28, 2026

The administration of President Donald Trump has raised concerns that federally funded institutions, such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), wield the power to either heighten or ease racial tensions through what the administration calls “divisive” and “ideologically driven” narratives. The administration is scrutinizing the portrayal of the nation’s heritage […]