Board
The humans of Friends of Abolitionist Place.
Friends of Abolitionist Place, is a nonprofit formed by the group of community organizers and activists based in Brooklyn, who aim to continue the mission of the late Mama Joy Chatel through establishing the Abolitionist Heritage Center. We seek to uplift, celebrate, and preserve Black liberation, abolition, U.S. history, and resistance to injustice through the curation of visitor experiences, permanent collections, and rotating exhibitions that honor these traditions in the past and present.
Shawné Lee
Shawné Lee is a Philadelphia native whose early years were shaped in Los Angeles before she relocated to New York City, where she graduated as Valedictorian from United Business Institute in 1997. A lifelong artist and cultural ambassador, Shawné is a former member of Djole African Drum and Dance Company, Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Company and Seewe African Drum and Dance. She also served as Cultural Arts Program Coordinator for Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy.
After the passing of her beloved mother, “Mama Joy,” in 2014, Shawné’s journey deepened in purpose. Together, they had worked to preserve 227 Abolitionist Place, their historic family home on Duffield Street in Downtown Brooklyn—once the residence of abolitionists Thomas and Harriet Lee Truesdell and a documented site on the Underground Railroad.
At Shawné's urging, Mama Joy began offering historical tours in 2005, guiding visitors from across the globe through the very tunnels that once provided sanctuary for enslaved Africans and indentured servants. The home also served as a vibrant cultural space for rehearsals, workshops, performances, and fundraising events.
Today, Shawné honors that legacy through the founding of the nonprofit Friends of Abolitionist Place.
Raul Rothblatt
Raul Rothblatt serves as a founding board member and vice-chairperson of Friends of Abolitionist Place. Raul moved to NYC in 1993, and finished his MFA in Musical Theater Composition from the Tisch School of Arts in 1995.
He is the manager and cellist of Kakande, a 9 piece band playing the Mande music led by balafonist Famoro Dioubate, a griot from Guinea, West Africa. He plays bass with Életfa Hungarian Folk at venues ranging from the Hungarian House in UES and with the NY Philharmonic at Lincoln Center.
He has been an activist for Downtown Brooklyn Abolitionist history since 2004, and is a fervent advocate for reframing Brooklyn's Abolitionist/Black history as central to the American Civil Rights movement—it should be celebrated as widely at the Harlem Renaissance.
A close friend of Mama Joy and her family, he has also been the informal liaison between Abolitionist Place advocates and the academic community. As Co-President of the PS9 Brooklyn Parent Teacher Organization, he led the efforts to rename the school after Sarah Smith Garnet.
He manages the Brooklyn Mishpucha Facebook group, which is the living history effort of the Brooklyn Jewish Historical Initiative. He is currently the Director of Constituent Services for Assemblyman Brian Cunningham.
A father of two, his wife is a librarian at Brooklyn Public Library and they are all active members of Kolot Chayeinu.
Melissa Gomes
Melissa Gomes serves as Board Secretary and Programs & Logistics Manager for Friends of Abolitionist Place.
In this dual role, Melissa combines strong organizational leadership with hands-on program development to support the group’s mission of honoring Brooklyn’s abolitionist history and fostering community engagement.
As Board Secretary, Melissa ensures clear communication and accountability within the organization’s governance. As Programs & Logistics Manager, she leads the planning and coordination of events, visioning sessions, and community gatherings that bring neighbors together to celebrate heritage, resistance, and joy.
Dedicated to creating inclusive and meaningful experiences, Melissa plays a key role in strengthening the organization’s impact and building connections across Brooklyn and beyond.
Friends of Abolitionist Place
Brooklyn, NY
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The work continues as we work to establish the Abolitionist Heritage Center