Sunday, February 23--The People Speak at St Thomas in Red Bank

Once again,  T. Thomas Fortune Project Committee is presenting a Live version of THE PEOPLE SPEAK AT ST. THOMAS OF RED BANK
Held at 12:00 PM at St. Thomas Episcopal Church,  26 East Sunset Avenue, Red Bank. 

Based on the documentary film “The People Speak” —itself adapted from
 the late Howard Zinn’s book “A People’s History of the United States.”The film is a showcase of history-making voices such as, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Cesar Chavez and others performed by
notable actors and entertainers of our time. This Live performance is designed to create discussion about issues that affect the day to day lives of people, from immigration, violence, racism to gay rights and poverty. T
hese are concerns that still plague this country and The People Speak serves as a rallying call for people to rise up and speak out.

Council members unanimously passed a resolution at its first working session on January 8, 2014 declaring February as
T. Thomas Fortune month in the borough of Red Bank The resolution was introduced by, Cindy Burnham, who was recently elected to the council.  February is nationally designated as Black History Month and the resolution serves as a formal recognition to a great human rights activist. 
Born into slavery, Fortune’s trailblazing rise as a firestorm journalist, publisher and writer rebuked the government’s failed attempt at Reconstruction, which led to the rise of Jim Crow and black code laws.  Fortune has been credited with being the bridge to the modern day Civil Rights Movement.  In 1880, he formed the “Afro American League,” which was a pre-curser to the NAACP.From 1901 to 1911, Fortune resided at the home he called, Maple Hill, at 94 West Bergen Avenue. which today is
94 Drs. James Parker Boulevard.  While living there he entertained the likes of black leaders, such as, Booker T. Washington. He edited the works of Marcus Garvey and others of that ilk.   The home is among 55 National Historic Landmarks in the state and only one of two NHLs associated with African American history.  In 2007, Councilman Ed Zipprich nominated the TTF home to “Preservation New Jersey” 10 most endangered sites.  “We’re hoping someone will come along with a very big wallet and buy it,” said Councilman Zipprich, whose involvement with the T. Thomas Fortune Project, along with Burnham, are working to save and preserve the home. 

In 2013, the T. Thomas Fortune Project, which consists of a committee of concerned citizens and experts in the field of historic preservation, was formed to raise funds toward the purchase of the home.  The committee’s nonprofit lead agent is the Red Bank Men’s Club Foundation.  It has held fundraising campaigns and community forums to bring awareness to the plight of the home and to get the community involved in the cause.“Our concerted effort is to preserve and restore the home to serve as a grand cultural community center,” said Gilda Rogers, who is the chairperson of the programming committee of the T. Thomas Fortune Project.
 “We’d like to see it become a vibrant showcase of Red Bank history and a destination.”   The committee’s Project Director, Peter Primavera, is a
30-year veteran in the field of historic preservation, with extensive experience working with National Historic  Landmarks .  
The home which has been vacant since 2006 is currently owned by the Vacarelli family and the committee is in negotiations with the family. 
For additional information contact: thomasfortunehouse@gmail.com.  
All donations can be made payable to
The Red Bank Men’s Club Foundation: P.O. Box 2235
Westside Station, Red Bank, N.J. 07701. 

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BizEturtle:Events in Monmouth
contact me at lynn@bizeturtle.com or 732-759-0485