Stewarding Our Stories, Growing Our Power
For us, spring marks the true new year—when the land awakens in an outward expression of the quiet work that’s been unfolding underground.
Winter is our time of reflection. While this past season has been heavy—especially given the current political climate—there’s still much to celebrate, process, and carry forward.
As always, we turn to history—not out of nostalgia, but out of necessity. The playbook of oppression rarely changes; its tactics echo the past in eerily familiar ways.
Lately, we’ve been studying Maroon societies and freedom seekers across the diaspora. This moment calls for that kind of quiet, strategic, and surgical action—work that safeguards our communities, breaks isolation, and builds connection. Cultural preservation, land-based practice, and alliance-building are the fugitive infrastructures we need now more than ever.
The BLAC Ecosystem
Thanks to generous funding from the Kataly Foundation, The North Star Fund, and Brooklyn Org, we’ve been incubating The BLAC Ecosystem - a model for collective stewardship that keeps Black communities rooted, resourced, and resilient.
As institutions are being dismantled, we have the opportunity to dream of and practice new ways of being.
And while our official BLAC membership drive launches this summer, we’re already inviting you into the circle - our upcoming events honor the stories that shape us and build the skills we need to steward our communities.
Upcoming Events
April 3 | Tax Lien Sale Briefing | Online | 6 pm
April 3 | Oral History Workshop: Listening as Legacy
Online | 6:30–8:00 PM
April 19 | Black Land, Black History, Black Futures Our Earth Day Event
What is the Tax Lien? In NYC, a tax lien sale occurs when the city sells liens (legal claims) against properties with unpaid taxes, water/sewer charges, and other property-related debts to authorized buyers, who then have the right to collect the outstanding amounts plus interest and fees, potentially leading to foreclosure if the debt isn't resolved.
>> Register for the briefing here <<
April 3 | Oral History Workshop: Listening as Legacy
Online | 6:00–7:00 PM
Learn the art of oral history—how to listen deeply, ask meaningful questions, and preserve the stories that shape our neighborhoods.
Join our partners Voices of Lefferts for a virtual workshop where you’ll gain practical tips and techniques for conducting interviews with elders, neighbors, friends, and family members. Whether you’re new to oral history or looking to deepen your skills, this is a chance to learn, reflect, and contribute to a growing archive of memory and place-based knowledge.
What you’ll learn:
— How to prepare and conduct an interview
— Best practices for recording and archiving stories
— Why oral history matters in the fight for land, legacy, and liberation
This workshop will take place on Zoom. Registration is free, and all are welcome.
Register here: ttps://partiful.com/e/NlugJPE3APP4RKWCflyx
Let’s listen to remember. Let’s remember to build.
April 19 | Black Land, Black History, Black Futures
In honor of Earth day, on Saturday, April 19, we’ve got a powerful day of environmental learning, cultural storytelling, and creative reflection planned in Bed-Stuy and Weeksville!
As part of our Mapping Black History Project, we’re linking climate resilience with cultural heritage—highlighting how Black communities have always been stewards of land, memory, and liberation.
Come ready to get dirty and learn.
11AM–2PM | Rain Garden Stewardship + Clean up in Bed-Stuy. Join us, Bailey’s Cafe, Friends of Jackie Robinson Place Playground, and the NYC DEP Stewardship Team as we clean up Jackie Robinson Park Playground and explore the Rain Gardens of Bed-Stuy. Learn how these green infrastructures function, their role in protecting our neighborhoods, and how we can become caretakers of these living systems.
2 PM | History + Culture Walk Our signature walk returns to Bed Stuy. Together, we’ll explore 400 years of history and culture that shaped our current moment, and also leap into the future to imagine the change we want to see.
3–5PM | Art + Writing at Weeksville Heritage Center
We’ll gather with Voices of Lefferts and the Mapping Black History writers to explore the historic Weeksville Houses, reflect on the legacy of Black Brooklyn, and create art and writing inspired by our past and future.
Art-making • Story-sharing • Environmental Justice
Register here to attend.
What else we’ve been up to
We created a roadmap for individuals and groups safeguarding their special places.
>>Take a look<<
Thank you to Creative Urban Alchemy for shepherding us through the process of our getting practice on the page.
Wrapping up the Local Center
Last year, we were part of the inaugural cohort of the Local Center. Over the course of 18 months, we worked with Creative Urban Alchemy to activate the Flatbush African Burial Ground and develop a Black History + Heritage Corridor using signs created by young artists of color.
We also created the Corridor Activation Plan, a roadmap for other groups looking to do similar work, so they don’t have to start from scratch.
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Our Second Annual Youth Design Challenge
Last year, 3 young artists won our first-ever Youth Design Challenge, and 4 more earned Honorable Mentions and $250 prizes!
This go round, we’ve selected two 2025 semifinalists to receive mentorship, art supplies, and a chance to win $1000 for their signage designs. Stay tuned as we share their works in progress.
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Mapping Black History
Marking the 400th anniversary of New Amsterdam’s founding and occupation of Lenapehoking in 1625, we’ve been partnering with Voices of Lefferts, Weeksville Heritage Center, Center for Brooklyn History, and Lefferts Historic Houses on Mapping Black History.
The project will extend the Black History + Heritage Corridor we started as part of the Local Center by increasing already existing signage of Black historic and contemporary sites, revitalizing tree pits and NYC DEP rain gardens, and producing two issues of Voices of Lefferts: The Flatbush-PLG Community Writing Journal, 15 oral history interviews, and a pilot podcast episode.
So far, over 30 Brooklynites have signed up to write, make art, and conduct oral histories that will live online, at the Center for Brooklyn History, and in the print journal. It’s been an amazing journey as we’ve visited Lefferts Historic House and Center for Brooklyn History.
Call for volunteers
We’re looking for volunteers to help us on all these initiatives. If there’s something that strikes your fancy reach out at shanna@growhousenyc.org.
We hope to see you this month!