2024 Events and Activites We are the neighborhood. Fall Clean Up Nov 10, 2024 Wonderful crew at the garden today! On the second Sunday of each month, Love ALLiance church chooses a community service activity instead of having service. This month they joined with Frederick Douglass Neighborhood Association joined up to do a little fall cleanup and prepare the garden beds for winter. ��� It was a beautiful day! #community City of Brockton Reading Douglass Together July 13, 2024 We had a nice turn out in spite of the showers. The big tent definitely helped! Readers of all ages participated including a 5th grader who read in Portuguese! Our VP Cynthia Hodges of Lady C&J Soulfood & Catering INC. brought her ice cream truck so we were able to give out free treats to our guests! It was a great day. Summer Improvements & Volunteers June 2024 Hello Friends! We have been busy over the last several weeks working on the garden and then, on June 7, an amazing thing happened! We received a generous donation from The Home Depot Foundation, G.Norwood Garden Center, Seones, Tri-Town Construction, LLC of plants, mulch, soil, and stone to beautify the garden for Juneteenth and future events. A special shout out to FDNA Vice President, Cynthia McCall-hodges, who made the connections for all that to be possible! A team from Frederick Douglass Neighborhood Association, Messiah Baptist Church, and faithful members of the community SHOWED UP and worked so hard on a hot day to get everything installed. You will notice there's a nice combination of perennials and annuals to complement the existing plants! Even two Haitian men who were walking by offered to help. Truly an amazing community effort. Did I mention the team who has been WATERING?!! Firestone graciously gave us permission to use their faucet so we can hook up a hose when we need to water! This morning a team of us added more mulch and used a pressure washer to try and remove the graffiti from the wall. We made progress! THANK YOU again to all who have generously offered their time and commitment to the garden. It makes a difference in our community! "Keep Brockton Beautiful Day" May 18, 2024 Had some helpers today as we worked at the Frederick Douglass Garden for the citywide “Keep Brockton Beautiful” event! Fairway Landscaping even brought a crew who donated their time to mow and trim the garden. So great seeing the kids and adults working side by side!

FDNA 2019 Reading featured on "CBS Sunday Morning" In their July 5, 2020 broadcast, CBS Sunday Morning featured the "Reading Frederick Douglass Together" grant program that is funded by MassHumanities. FDNA was asked for permission to use clips from our 2019 reading during that broadcast, which also featured the City of Somerville's Reading. Normally held in our community garden, FDNA had to move indoors in 2019 due to thunderstorms that drenched the area. Messiah Baptist Church graciously opened their doors for us. When you watch the clip, look for the indoor scenes which feature our readers: Willie A. Wilson., Jr., Fran Jeffries, Mark Linde, Michelle DuBois, and young Ashton Guerlande. Follow this link to view the 5 minute segment: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/frederick-douglass-admonition-on-the-moral-rightness-of-liberty-for-all/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab6i&linkId=92908535&fbclid=IwAR2NxB76anPHoyziwl5qu5F103ASu_JNmmsU9R4cToj1SaRAvRaDy7jIgLI Willie A. Wilson Jr. Charlot of Ashton and sister CBS credits Willie A. Wilson Jr. 1/5

2018 Building * Growing * Learning Reading Douglass Together More Here A Night With Doughlass An Evening with Frederick Douglass See More Pictures HERE Douglass Bicentennial

FDNA Annual Meeting 2026 FDNA Annual Meeting January 27, 2026 Voted In: Cindy Pendergast-Chair/President Cynthia Hodges -Vice Chair Heather Nelson-Treasurer Jamie Hodges—Clerk/Secretary (All officer terms will be for one year) Board Members Louis Lemieux Carol Griffin Annette Thomas Marc Osborne 2026 FDNA Action Plan I. Governance, Operations & Communications Form Committees: Garden & Beautification; Murals/Avenue Branding; Youth & Schools; Fundraising; Communications/Volunteers Public Meetings: Work with team to set dates for 3–4 public meetings for 2026 and publish on City Website Communications/Transparency: Publish a 2026 events calendar + volunteer sign-ups link on our website. Establish a quarterly newsletter schedule & ongoing event promotion Finance: Establish monthly bookkeeping, financials report Lead: Heather Nelson | Timeline: future meetings II. Signature Events & Programming (Spring–Summer) Frederick Douglass Bust Unveiling Event at Liberty Tree: Partner with Mayor’s Office; explore keynote speaker, possible street event Lead: Cindy Pendergast | Mayor check-in: ASAP Annual July 4th Reading: “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” to be held on July 11 at 10:30am. Funding: Mass Humanities ($2K) | Partners: African American Association, Messiah Baptist, NAACP and others "Discussing Douglass" ongoing series : Recurring (quarterly?) program perhaps in a "book-club style"; honor Jill Wiley (Liberty Tree quilt) Funding: Creative Impact Fund ($2.5K) | Partners: Historical Society, Library, BHS Educational Trip: Historical tour of New Bedford Timeline: Spring planning III. Liberty Tree, Garden & Avenue Branding Liberty Tree Quilt: Pick up from Jill Wiley's husband and deliver to FDNA (completed) Lead: Cindy Pendergast Garden & Maintenance: Spring planting (May); monthly volunteer schedule; youth engagement, update fencing, plant trees, install trash receptacle with plan for emptying Funding: Rep. DuBois/Mendes earmark ($25K) ± Beautification funds Plan by: End of March Murals & Branding: Murals (Firestone wall + sites), banners on street lights, signage on fencing and improved branding along street Funding: Rep. DuBois/Mendes earmark ($25K) ± Beautification funds Plan by: End of April | Implementation: Summer/Fall Creation of Abolitionist Park: Advance planning with Mayor’s Office Timeline: Ongoing IV. Youth, Volunteers & Partnerships (March+) Youth & Schools Outreach: BHS, MassHire, GBYP, Boys & Girls Club, JROTC Volunteer Recruitment: Garden + events (LoveALLiance, Garden Club, Cape Verdean Assoc., GBYP) V. Fundraising & Sustainability Fundraising Strategy: Evaluate banquet, street event, vendor booths; estimate costs and speakers Deliverable: Feasibility report | By: May 1 2025 Grant Awards ● Mass Humanities Grant - $2000 Grant Awarded for Reading Douglass Together ● Creative Impact Fund (Black-Owned Brockton) - $2500 awarded with Project focus: Discussing Douglass ● DBA Beautification Fund Grant – $5,000 for garden and Liberty Tree ● Earmark was made for $25,000 from State Reps Dubois and Mendes Contact If you'd like to attend any of our activities, send a note. FDNABrockton@gmail.com

/our vision We are Brockton citizen residents and volunteers who honor the legacy of Frederick Douglass in our neighborhood through community engagement and the arts. In May of 2004, a street in downtown Brockton, Massachusetts was renamed for Frederick Douglass, an orator, statesman, and abolitionist who had once been a slave. Some call him America's first civil rights activist. Not far away was the location of the stables of Edward E. Bennett. During the years around the Civil War, the stables were one stop of the Underground Railroad. At this location stood a sycamore tree which was the symbol of liberty for the slaves who hid in this building. It was also a place where great human rights activists such as Mr. Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Lucretia Mott and Amelia Bloomer addressed the issues of the day. In 2004 the tree had to be cut down due to damage from a storm. A slice of that tree is on display at the Brockton Public Library. A clone of the tree was planted at the Brockton Historical Society Museum. In 2014, the 10th anniversary of the renaming of Frederick Douglass Avenue, our neighborhood association was born. Our mission in 2014 was to bring attention to the 10th anniversary by enhancing the community garden and hosting community events to bring neighbors together in celebration and unity. Our year was a great success, and you can enjoy those events on our 2014 in Review page. We are committed to organizing our neighborhood, effecting meaningful change, and honoring the legacy of Mr. Douglass and his connections to the ethnic diversity of Brockton today: he worked with Cape Verdean shipbuilders, served as Minister to Haiti, stood with Daniel O'Connell as Ireland fought for independence, supported Susan B. Anthony and women suffragettes , fought for equal pay for black soldiers during the Civil War, and is our inspiration as our country's first civil rights activist as our city and country struggle with modern issues of fairness, equality, and racial harmony. As Mr. Douglass once said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress”. If you live, work, worship or play in our neighborhood, come join us ! Click here to learn about our "Stride Toward Freedom" project completed in 2015. "In conclusion, my dear young friends, be not discouraged. Accept the inspiration of hope. Imitate the example of the brave mariner, who, amid clouds and darkness, amid hail, rain and storm bolts, battles his way against all that the sea opposes to his progress. You will then reach the goal of your noble ambition in safety." — Frederick Douglass, Blessings of Liberty and Education, Manassas, Va., 1894

/2020 The speech in English The speech in Haitian Creole CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW AND LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: https://noubeproductions.com/2020/06/29/ what-to-the-slave -is-the-4th-of-july/ The speech in Spanish AS OF JUNE 20, WE ARE FULLY SUBSCRIBED ! No more readers are needed. Our thanks to all who stepped forward! Stay tuned for information on when our podcast will be available. Our FIFTH Annual Reading of Frederick Douglass' iconic speech "What To The Slave is the 4th of July" will be in a different format in 2020, due to the COVID19 pandemic. We are delighted to work with Emmy Award Winning producer Noube Rateau and Noube Productions to create a podcast of the speech. Mr. Rateau will also merge the audio files with images to create a video production of the speech. We will read the speech as One Community With Many Voices - some will read in English, and some will read in the language of their ancestors to honor our roots, and pay homage to the diversity that is Brockton. To volunteer to read a paragraph, contact the FDNA President John Drusinkskas at jdrusinskas27@gmail.com He will advise of the paragraphs that may still be available to read. He will then give further instructions on how to connect with Noube Productions to record your choice. To read the MassHumanities version of the speech which we use as our template, click on the pdf file.

Garden awaits its guests Balloon man on the patio Thank you for our pergola Balloons are fun Ben McGrath History tour with Willie Wilson Yoga with Shaynah A good class The reward

Through the generosity of donations from Good Samaritan Medical Center of Brockton, and the South of Boston Gardeners with George Stanchfield our pergola over the relaxin' patio was completed in August of 2016 sketch It starts with a sketch Vision And we give the carpenter a photo. Kenny in the shade Kenny gets to work The "crew" With his helper from the Boys and Girls Club in progress The frame takes shape Canvas The canvas goes on for shade Looks perfect The dream comes true Relax The perfect place to relax

An Evening with Frederick Douglass Speakers representing the diversity of Brockton join Mr. Douglass in the April 2018 program Douglass Bicentennial Display 2018 installation at the Brockton Post Office for the Bicentennial of Douglass' birth WAVE project Freedom Path of concrete art with social justice quotes installed by the youth of Brockton Ice Cream Sundae Sunday Dusty the therapeutic miniature horse joins in the festivities, August 2018 2017 Summer Sundae Social We learn about Frederick Douglass Having ie cream & meeting neighbors Delicious Reading Douglass in 12 languages Show More Our story in images 2013-2018

Douglass in his office in Haiti (National Park Service) Cabral vidaslusofonas.pt Douglass and Anthony, Sculpture Garden Rochester, NY Artist rendition of potential panels in our garden The Garden As Text Many chapters in the life of Frederick Douglass have themes that touch the diversity of Brockton today. Our goal is that the garden's Stride Toward Freedom Path will serve as the “text” to stories that will highlight those connections and create a common ground and bond of understanding. In each instance, we also ask “What would this civil rights activist and freedom fighter’s philosophy, approach and advice be as we grapple with the challenges of our society and our city today?” Haiti : Frederick Douglass served as the minister to Haiti for two years. Toussaint Louverture (1743 to 1803) was the leader of the Haitian Revolution – the only slave revolt which resulted in the establishment of a nation. In a preface to a biography of Louverture by Victor Schoelcher (that was never published), Douglass wrote: “The whole Christian world was at that time against (Louverture). England, France, Spain, Portugal, the United States and Holland were all slaveholders. They could only look with horror upon a great Negro leading his class in rebellion for its freedom. His high character, his valor, his wisdom, and his unflinching fidelity to the cause of liberty are an inheritance of which his people should be proud.” Ireland: Douglass traveled to Ireland and Britain in the 1840s, arriving in Ireland in 1845 at the cusp of the devastating Famine. Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847), Irish campaigner for Catholic Emancipation and Repeal of the Act of Union, played a prominent role in the anti-slavery movement there. In an article that appeared in ‘History Today, author Christine Kinealy wrote: “Visiting Ireland in 1845, Frederick Douglass was appalled by the poverty of the Irish people, likening their condition to that of the most degraded American slaves. When touring the United Kingdom, prior to a lecture in Cork, Douglass was referred to by O’Connell himself as ‘the Black O’Connell’, thus linking the two men in the public mind with the abolitionist cause.” Cape Verde: Douglass worked for several years in the shipyards of Baltimore as a caulker. It is not surprising that he ended up in New Bedford and Nantucket, which in the early 1800s were populated by many Cape Verdeans and Azorians who had arrived in whaling ships. Also prevalent in Nantucket and New Bedford were the Quaker “Friends”, who took an early stance against slavery and inequality. Amilcar Cabral (1924 – 1973) encouraged Cape Verdeans and people of Portuguese Guinea to support the opposition against colonial rule. He helped to organize a liberation movement which eventually became the African Party for Independence for Guinea and Cape Verde. He was assassinated in 1973. He is quoted as saying: “Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children. . .” Brockton Abolitionists: Hotel keeper Edward F. Bennett (1804 -1887) of Brockton was also outspoken in his position against slavery. A huge sycamore tree outside of his stables was a symbol of liberty for the slaves who hid in his building, a stop on the Underground Railroad. That tree and stable was located on High Street – now Frederick Douglass Way – just steps from our Garden. Women’s Rights: Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) spoke out for equal rights for women at our Liberty Tree, as did many other suffragettes. When 300 women gathered in Seneca Falls, New York for the very first women’s rights convention, Frederick Douglass was one of only 40 men to attend. The “Declaration of Sentiments” drawn up at that convention contained eleven resolutions, and the ninth stated it was a woman’s duty to secure the right to vote. In an editorial published that same year, 1848, in The North Star, Douglass wrote, ". . . in respect to political rights . . . there can be no reason in the world for denying to woman the elective franchise.” Douglass and Anthony had a lifelong friendship – but it was not always an easy one. Anthony fought for universal suffrage and did not agree that the black man should receive the right to vote before women did. “Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: From the “I Have a Dream” speech delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.: “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now . This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.”

/our story "We are one, our cause is one, and we must help each other if we are to succeed." Frederick Douglass Brockton, MA is located about 25 miles south of Boston. In 2004 our Liberty Tree, a sycamore which stood at an Underground Railroad site, had to be taken down. High Street was then renamed Frederick Douglass Avenue, and promises were made to rehabilitate the area. In 2014 the street was still neglected -- but a small sapling grew from the roots of the Liberty Tree. Inspired by its tenacity, a group of residents reclaimed a small neglected plot on the street and went to work. Now our neighborhood's Town Green, this garden represents the work we do studying and reflecting on Douglass's work; building community with beauty, on our neighborhood streets and within ourselves! DOUGLASS GARDEN Sept. 2015 Douglass Garden Nov 2015 Douglass Garden Dec 2015 seed swap notice Sunday Oct 4.jpg Frederick Douglass Avenue, Brockton, In 2004 the city renamed High Street in honor of Frederick Douglass We reclaim the garden Volunteers decide to reclaim the street Clearing the land We weed and clean After the clearing We get the plot down to its original shape Garden party The garden is used by the community to celebrate! Show More 2025 Officers Cindy Pendergast-Chair/President Cynthia Hodges -Vice Chair Heather Nelson-Treasurer Jamie Hodges—Clerk/Secretary (All officer terms will be for one year) Board Members Louis Lemieux Carol Griffin Annette Thomas Marc Osborne

/2014 Touched by violence Empty chairs and shocking headlines FDNA members met in the beginning of 2014. Our first event on the Avenue in the garden was a commemoration of those in our city who had been touched by violence. Empty chairs with newspaper headlines for each event bore witness. Brockton High School students in the Summer of Work and Learning Program learn about Frederick Douglass, and then volunteer in the garden for two weeks weeding and rearranging the flower beds. Mr. Willie A. Wilson is our teacher. Class is held at the Brockton Public Library. To generate community spirit, we create our own "Pop-Up" Outdoor Cafe at a local restaurant. They provide the food, we provide the tables, chairs and umbrellas. About 20 FDNA members enjoyed traditional Jamaican food at the Paradise Caribbean Cafe - jerk chicken, oxtail, steamed cabbage and delicious rice and beans -- with warm cookies for dessert! The Brockton Area Workforce WAVE program learns about Frederick Douglass and the Liberty Tree. For their summer volunteer program, they clean the area around the Liberty Tree site, research and design a new historical marker, and install the signage at the site. Helping2Unite Brockton keeps the garden weeded and watered; Stonehill College sends a dozen volunteers who paint the chain link fence and build our 'quilt star' patio; individual volunteers pick up trash, cut the grass, and relax with an early morning cup of coffee. In August of 2014, FDNA hosted a "Neighborhood Stroll". Three downtown churches opened their doors for displays -- quilts at Central United Methodist, jazz at Messiah Baptist, and history at Assembly of God. Guests strolled the neighborhood and visited the churches at their leisure. Then all assembled at the Frederick Douglass Garden for speeches, poetry, music, the North Star Awards ceremony, and hot fudge sundaes. Over 150 people came to meet, mingle, and build community. For the holiday season, FDNA volunteers staffed a "Gateway to History" stop on the annual Parade Day Treasure Hunt. Children came to our stop and met Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, and learned about Edward Bennett's stables, which was a stop on the Underground Railroad, right on the spot where the childrens' Treasure Hunt 'passports' were stamped, at the site of our Liberty Tree. Later that month, FDNA hosted a Downtown Lantern Walk. First we geared up for safety with reflective vests. Along the walk, stops were made and stories were told at Edgar's Department store, site of the very first department store Santa; 224 Main, where Watt Terry, Brockton's first black millionaire, had his office in the early 1900s, at our live Christmas Tree on Legion Parkway, and of course in the Douglass Garden. At the end of the walk, the children hung their lanterns on the brick wall of the Garden as an art installation.