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Mid-Hudson Antislavery History Project

2013 PROGRAMS and INITIATIVES

Following is a list of the activities MHAHP developed, sponsored, supported or in which we participated.

January

 * Lighting of the Mid-Hudson Bridge to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation (supported Coalition of Organizations Sponsoring Black History Activities)

 * DAS participated in annual “Gift to the City” concert at Temple Beth-El, Poughkeepsie, January 13th.

February

 * DAS recorded three songs for CD produced by the 77th New York Balladeers

 * MHAHP sponsored a booth, workshop and performance by the DAS at the 75th annual conference of the New York State Council on the Social Studies, in Rye, New York

 * DAS began developing a proposal for a “pocket book” of antislavery song lyrics, to complement the existing 36 Antislavery Songs

 * Provided MHAHP and DAS material to the Alan Singer, Hofstra University, for an article about us to be published in the newsletter of the joint NY/NJ Social Studies association

 * Curriculum materials were developed for middle and high school teachers presented at workshop conducted by DAS at the Social Studies conference; to be posted on MHAHP website in spring

March

 * Participated in DCC communications project, involving several interviews of MHAHP members, which resulted in a video and audio recording of the MHAHP and DAS

 * Lecture by Dr. Kahlil Mohammed, of the Schomburg Center, (supported Coalition of Organizations Sponsoring Black History Activities)

 * New officers elected, plans introduced for expanded activities and outreach to increase awareness of MHAHP and attract new members

 * Verbal agreement between MHAHP and African-American Advisory Board of Westchester County to form promotional alliance; details to follow

 * MHAHP joined the Hudson Valley History Consortium

April

 * Broadcast an appeal through our email Newsletter for member involvement and donations

 * Published on website calendar of meetings for remainder of 2013 (4/15)

 * MHAHP represented at annual meeting of the Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Albany, New York

 * Provided info on MHAHP and DAS to Debora Shon, Poughkeepsie Public Library, in her proposal for NEH grant to mount an event on Antislavery and Civil Rights; DAS would perform if grant is approved; I also invited her to call on MHAHP if she needed assistance.

May

 * Began review of website, to be updated with new material and new links to alliances and donation page; first batch of records of MHAHP (minutes, etc.) will be archived on the site.

 * First of new “get together” meetings. Informal meeting with refreshments, to attract greater attendance and participation; held May 6th at DCC with communications students and Dana Weidman

 * MHAHP co-sponsor of Teaching the Hudson Valley workshop on Slavery, May 10th, at Historic Huguenot Street; led by Debi Duke

June

 * DAS concert at Scarsdale Middle School

 * DAS concert at Freedom Plains Presbyterian Church, LaGrangeville

 * Second “get-together”; Dutchess County Historian, Will Tatum, was the guest

July

 * DAS concert at Fountains of Millbrook

August

 * MHAHP participated in commemoration of 50th anniversary of Civil Rights March on Washington; developed banner

September

 * MHAHP sponsored, with BHPC and the FDR Museum and Library, lecture and presentation by Deborah Willis and Barbara Krauthamer, co-authors of Envisioning Emancipation, at Wallace Center, FDR Library, September 22.

October

 * DAS poster developed for display at Ulster County Musical Heritage commemoration

 * Provided input to Poughkeepsie Library for grant application, Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle

November

 * MHAHP will begin participating in quarterly Dutchess County History Society meetings

 * Joined New York Underground Railroad Consortium

December

 * Participated in archaeological exploration of Baxtertown, originally a settlement of free blacks and site of the Baxtertown Methodist Episcopal Church.

January through December

 * Published monthly on-line newsletter of activities and related stories.

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