3 April, 2024
Hopkinton Historical Society is pleased to announce it has received a $2000 “Reading Frederick Douglass Together” grant from Mass Humanities with funding made possible by the Mass Cultural Council.
Each year, Mass Humanities organizes and funds free public events where communities gather together to read and talk about Frederick Douglass’s influential address, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” The life and works of Frederick Douglass continue to shape our understanding of America. A gifted orator and prescient writer, Douglass forces us to reckon with the legacy of slavery and the promises of democracy.
"The support from Mass Humanities and the Massachusetts Cultural Council provides us with an opportunity to commemorate the enduring legacy of one of Hopkinton's most notable visitors and to explore what his powerful words mean to the community nearly two centuries later,” said Anne Mattina, the Historical Society’s vice-president.
Together with the Hopkinton Freedom Team, the Historical Society will present “Reading Frederick Douglass Together on the Hopkinton Town Common,” Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, rain or shine. The Hopkinton Center for the Arts will add this event to their “Artful Conversation Series” a series of art events presented through a social justice lens. Volunteer readers representing citizens young and old, from all corners of town will share Douglass’ words. The event will also include music, discussion and other surprises. All are welcome to attend!
If you are interested in volunteering for the event, please reach out to Anne Mattin at the Historical Society at hissochopma@gmail.com.
For more information on the Reading of Frederick Douglass Together grant program click following link; https://masshumanities.org/programs/douglass/
Organizations interested in learning about future grants should follow Mass Humanities on social media @masshumanities and visit their website.
The Hopkinton Historical Society
The Hopkinton Historical Society is a non-profit organization that was established in 1951 to celebrate the history of the Town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, protect the Town's historical artifacts, explain early New England life, and educate the public about the rich history of this small and ever-changing town. We sponsor several educational, social, and fundraising events throughout the year, and the Society maintains an active archive of documents that are critical to preserving the Town's history for future generations. For more information visit https://www.hopkhistsoc.org/about.php
The Hopkinton Freedom Team
The Hopkinton Freedom Team is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating unity in the community by fostering inclusion, solidarity and compassion for all people. The Freedom Team is focused on moving beyond tolerance to embracing, sharing and celebrating our community’s diversity. For more information visit https://www.hopkintonfreedomteam.org/
The Hopkinton Center for the Arts
The Hopkinton Center for the Arts serves individuals of all ages, cultures, and artistic abilities across the MetroWest region, through artistic skill development, performance and art exhibitions, and enabling visitors to experience art in all forms. For more information on the Hopkinton Center for visit https://www.hopartscenter.org/
