Past Projects:
The Amistad Project (October 2006)
Many community leaders and organizations joined our efforts to bring this historic vessel, The Freedom Schooner Amistad to our shores. This visit was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Amistad’s historic “Atlantic Freedom Tour,” which will begin in Nova Scotia, moved to ports in England, Sierra Leone, Barbados, South Carolina, and end in Washington, DC, as a commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
The Amistad docked at the Haverstraw Marina October 7th - 11th and again on October 22nd -24th, 2006. Exhibits, film screenings, book chats/readings, musical performances dramatic presentations, lecture series and art projects for children complimented the tour.
Over 3,500 people have toured the Freedom Schooner. These visitors have been extremely diverse, representing every racial, ethnic, cultural and religious group in the county. They have come from every region of Rockland as well as Orange and Westchester counties in New York, from New York City, Long Island and from Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Connecticut and so many other places. These visitors have crossed the generations, sometimes three or more generations have visited the ship together as a family—and these guests have differed in their educational and economic backgrounds as well.