Thursday, January 29, 7:00 pm
Zoom presentation
Exploring the history of the land that would become a New Deal community
The archeological and historical record documents thousands of years of human presence on the land we now call Greenbelt, most intensely in the past 400 years. This slide talk by historian, Alan Virta, will present a broad overview of the black, white, and Native American people who lived here before the New Deal green town was built and how they made a living off the land, with stories about representative individuals and families, including colonial tobacco planters, the enslaved, and those who came after them. The talk will answer some basic questions and raise others on the pre-Greenbelt history of Greenbelt.
About the Speaker: A former resident of Greenbelt, Alan Virta was one of the original board members of the Friends of the Greenbelt Museum. He also served on the Greenbelt 50th Anniversary Committee. Long active with the Prince George's County Historical Society, he is the author of the book Prince George's County: A Pictorial History and served as the first chairman of the county's Historic Preservation Commission. Alan Virta grew up in Prince George's County, attended DuVal Senior High School, and has degrees in history and library science from the University of Maryland. Now retired and living in Boise, Idaho, he worked as an archivist at the Library of Congress, University of Southern Mississippi, and Boise State University. (Image above is an 1894 map of Maryland.
This event is sponsored by the Greenbelt Museum and Greenbelt Reparations Commission.
See Event Flyer.
The Greenbelt Reparations Commission hosted a stakeholders and community Town Hall meeting on Saturday, November 15th from 2:30pm to 5pm at the Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Road, Room 201, to share the Greenbelt story and to hear suggestions from residents, especially the harmed community, African Americans and Native Americans who have been impacted historically.
The Greenbelt Reparations Commission shared its latest findings and organized breakout sessions on Housing, Education, Public Safety, Transportation, Recreation, Youth Development, and Indigenous concerns, where residents discussed repair and redress and suggested recommendations.
See:
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
Check back for a future date.
Let's Talk About Greenbelt Then and Now
The Commission has been working for about 2 years researching, gathering data, and learning about other cities’ efforts, but now they need to hear from YOU -- Greenbelt residents. Based on your experiences, what’s changed here? What needs to change? All viewpoints are welcome! Sponsored by the Greenbelt Reparations Commission and the Greenbelt Museum.
Light refreshments will be served.This event is free and will take place at 10A Crescent Rd, the future site of the Greenbelt Education and Visitor Center, located next door to the Museum’s historic house. If driving, please park in the library parking lot across the street from 10A Crescent. Thank you.
Questions? Contact Megan Searing Young, myoung@greenbeltmd.gov or 301-507-6582.
See Event Flyer.
The Greenbelt Reparations Commission will hold a series of four neighborhood listening sessions from 12:00 to 3:00 pm, at the entrance to the Giant at Beltway Plaza, beginning on Saturday, March 29, to get a better understanding of residents' experiences living in Greenbelt. Other dates at the same location include:
* Saturday, April 5
* Saturday, April 12
* Saturday, April 19
Residents will be invited to discuss several simple questions:
1: What has been your experience living in Greenbelt?
a) What do you like and appreciate?
b) What do you think needs change or attention?
2. Have you had experiences, positive or negative, that you think are based on your race or ethnicity?
Greenbelt residents are invited to meet with the Greenbelt Reparations Commission and students from the Howard Law School Movement Lawyering Clinic to discuss the state of Black Greenbelt.
Date and time: Saturday, April 5, 2:30 - 4:30 pm ET
Location: Springhill Lake Recreation Center, 6101 Cherrywood Ln, Greenbelt, Maryland
Zoom link also available: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85189850556#success
See: Event Flyer.
The Reparations Commission set up a table at the Greenbelt Farmer’s Market on Sunday, September 8. The event gave Commissioners the opportunity to speak with many people over the course of the day. Several individuals who stopped to talk also signed up to join the RC email list. Postcards about the RC were also distributed.
In honor of Maryland's Emancipation Day, the Greenbelt Black History and Culture Committee (GBHCC) presented a panel discussion about reparations on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Panelists included Dr. Raymond Winbush - Morgan State University (local/national perspective), Dreisen Heath - Human Rights Watch (international perspective), and Rico Newman - Member of Choptico Band of Elders (indigienous perspective), Piscataway-Conoy Tribe of Indians.
See Video archive and more information on Greenbelt Museum blog.
On October 12, 2024, the Greenbelt Reparations Commission held a public discussion with local, community, spiritual, County, and Native American leadership to address regional reparative and restorative justice challenges.
Speakers were:
* Maxine Gross, Lakeland Heritage Project
* Nancy Joy Alcin, Greenbelt Interfaith Leadership Association (GILA) Education Task Force
* Wanika B. Fisher, Prince George's County Council Member, District 2
* Alethia McCaskill, Maryland State Delegate, District 44B
The Greenbelt Reparations Commission hosted a forum on Exploring Black History in Prince George's County and Greenbelt on February 24, 2024. Featured speakers were Artura Jackson, Historian for the Black History Program of Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and Megan Searing Young, Director of the Greenbelt Museum. See video archive of event.