Your Donation Makes It Possible To Share "The Story of Freedom" (Virtually)!

Friends,

In this time of uncertainty, there's a fundamental truth that gives us hope - that together we can do extraordinary things. Over the past few weeks and months, the entire world has been coming together to stand up, help out, give back, and heal. This collaboration among neighbors, and finding strength in the community, mirrors the history of Freedmen’s Town, which serves as a reminder of the power of the human spirit and the story of freedom.

On May 5, 2020, people around the world came together to tap into the power of human connection and strengthen communities at the grassroots level. Historically, Freedmen's Town's strength relied on four pillars of freedom: faith, family, a sense of place, and EDUCATION. This resilient community is the birthplace of Booker T. Washington's closest advisor and Executive Assistant, Emmett Jay Scott. His success and achievements are credited to his robust education. From the founding of Freedmen's Town to this very day, residents (like Barbara Jordan) were educated first by their institutions of faith.

Bethel Church Park, among the many historic churches in the community, is a perfect example of 1) how integral the church was to the fabric of the community (see the video below), and 2) a shining example of why we need to urgently preserve "The Story of Freedom" they tell and restore these structures for education and cultural awakening!

The Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy participated in #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of unity and giving. Our organization's mission is to tell the “Story of Freedom" by preserving the historic legacy of Freedmen's Town, inspiring all through education and awareness of its unique story. With this intention at heart, we are working feverishly to launch our app "Freedmen's Town - The Story of Freedom". We will unite our storytelling resources, oral histories and archives, modern photos and videos, existing app development partners, social media channels, and all strategic partners to bring virtual tourism and immersive cultural education to Freedmen's Town.

With your support, we can take the ground swell of momentum at our back and bring forth a story that UNESCO says is "rare, authentic, and cannot be duplicated". We hope you’ll join us in taking that momentum to the next level!

In fact, we can't do it without you!

Many donated but we have not yet reached our goal. We are extending our campaign to provide more time for giving. We hope you’ll join us!

The Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy has set an ambitious goal of raising an additional $25,000, to match a generous donation, during #GivingTuesdayNow. We need your support to reach that milestone! Your donation to the organization, no matter the amount, will strengthen our ability to fulfill the mission, creating a vibrant social, cultural, and educational hub for the community online.

You can make your donation below. We are grateful for your support of the Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy.

Not only do we need your support, we need your help to spread the word. Please tell your friends and family why you believe in our work and encourage them to support us too!!

You can tag and find us at #houstonfreedmenstown on Facebook and Instagram.

Let's rally together to build stronger communities!!!

Onward and upward,

Zion Escobar, P.E., Executive Director