Mission
Friends of Abolitionist Place serves a diverse, multigenerational community across all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Guided by Mama Joy’s vision of a lasting space “for the people,” we are committed to ensuring that this history remains accessible, relevant, and alive for all.
Friends of Abolitionist Place is dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and amplifying the rich history of Black life in Downtown Brooklyn from the 19th century to the present. Through community-centered education, immersive walking tours, and public programming, we bring forward the enduring legacy of Black liberation, abolition, and resistance to injustice, connecting local history to narratives of freedom.
Central to this mission is the development of the 227 Abolitionist Place Heritage Center, a historic Underground Railroad site that will serve as a permanent home for storytelling, and preservation. The Center will function as a dynamic, internationally significant space for the study, commemoration, and continuation of Black-led activism, featuring visitor experiences, permanent collections, and rotating exhibitions that bridge past and present.
Friends of Abolitionist Place
Brooklyn, NY
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Do you want to celebrate Brooklyn’s rich history of abolition and resistance with us?
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The work continues as we work to establish the Abolitionist Heritage Center