Witness Stones Project, Inc.

Restoring History & Honoring Humanity

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Longmeadow Launches Witness Stones Project to Highlight Local Slavery History

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Longmeadow Launches Witness Stones Project to Highlight Local Slavery History

By Wojciech Zylm on Bnnbreaking.com on February 27, 2024

In a remarkable community effort to embrace and educate about its complex past, Longmeadow, Massachusetts, has partnered with the Witness Stones Project, a non-profit organization, to shed light on the local history of slavery. This collaborative initiative, which recently kicked off with a public lecture at the First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, seeks to honor and remember the enslaved individuals who contributed significantly to the development of the area. Dennis Culliton, a key figure from the Witness Stones Project, underscored the importance of recognizing not just the prominent individuals in history but also those enslaved people whose labor and lives were integral to the early growth of Longmeadow. The project, which aims to involve Longmeadow Public School and the Longmeadow Historical Society, represents a step towards acknowledging and understanding the region’s historical complexities. Continue reading.

First Public Lecture in Longmeadow

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The Witness Stones Project is excited to announce an expanded collaboration in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The nonprofit, educational initiative, whose mission is to restore the history and honor the humanity of the enslaved individuals who helped build our communities, will be working with the First Church of Christ, Longmeadow Public Schools, and the Longmeadow Historical Society to uncover and share the local history of slavery.

The first public event will be a lecture at 7 pm on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. The lecture, Introducing the Witness Stone Project: Remembering the History and Honoring the Humanity of Enslaved Individuals from Longmeadow, will be hosted by the First

Church of Christ in Longmeadow at 763 Longmeadow Street. The lecture is free and no pre-registration is required, but free will donations will be gratefully received.

The Witness Stones Project provides local archival research, professional teacher development, a classroom curriculum, and public programming to help students and their communities discover and chronicle the local history of slavery. The final component of the work in each community is the placement of Witness Stone MemorialsTM that honor enslaved individuals where they lived, worked, or worshiped. These stones serve as meaningful reminders of the lives and contributions of those who often went unrecognized in history. www.WitnessStonesProject.org

The First Church of Christ in Longmeadow has a rich history of social commitment dating back to 1716. It is a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC). The mission of the UCC is: “United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.” www.firstchurchlongmeadow.org

Longmeadow Public Schools includes three elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school. Their mission is to ensure that all students excel in learning, succeed in life, and enrich their community. www.longmeadow.k12.ma.us

The Longmeadow Historical Society’s mission is to preserve the town’s history and inspire public awareness of the people, places, and events that have contributed to Longmeadow’s history. www.longmeadowhistoricalsociety.org

 

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