Equal Rights Heritage Center Receives Surprise Gift

Sunday, September 27, 2020

(left to right) Courtney Rae Kasper, ERHC Visitor Experience Manager, and Stephanie DeVito, Executive Director, Auburn Downtown BID & Operations Manager, Equal Rights Heritage Center (Photo credit: Lisa Brennan, HTCJP Secretary)

On Sunday, September 27, 2020, the Equal Rights Heritage Center was the recipient of a surprise gift presented by the Board of the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace.

At a small private outdoors ceremony governed by COVID regulations on distancing and facial coverings, Stephanie DeVito, Executive Director, Auburn Downtown BID & Operations Manager, Equal Rights Heritage Center and Courtney Kasper, ERHC Visitor Experience Manager accepted a specially designed handmade wooden flag to commemorate the dynamic impact the ERHC continues to have on the overall community and out of area visitors to the site.

The flag, designed by Michael Brennan, CEO of FLX Flags, formerly known as Flags R Us, is made from solid pine wood and is 3’ high, 5’ wide and weighs 28 pounds. It contains an engraved silhouette of Harriet Tubman that is based on a Lisa Brennan photo of the statue that adorns the ERHC’s plaza. The 48 stars, which were hand carved, recognize the number of states that were part of the USA when Tubman passed away in 1913. The lantern and its glow represent her many rescues of enslaved people traveling in the dark with just the moonlight and stars as a guide.  

(Left to Right) Jack Hardy, HTCJP board member, Vijay Mital, HTCJP founding board member, Gilda Brower, HTCJP vice-chair, Courtney Kasper, ERHC Visitor Experience Manager, bill berry, jr., HTCJP chair, Stephanie DeVito, Executive Director, Auburn Downtown BID & Operations Manager, Equal Rights Heritage Center, Dr. Lucien Lombardo, HTCJP board member, Carol Colvin, HTCJP board member, Michael Brennan, CEO/FLX Flags, Abby Bonilla, and Grace Bonilla, FLX Flags, Dr. Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson, HTCJP board member, Kathleen Barnard, HTCJP treasurer, Steve Webster, HTCJP board member and Linda Webster. (photo credit: Lisa Brennan, HTCJP Secretary)

The gift was made possible through a donation to cover the production costs provided by Gilda Brower, a founding member of the HTCJP and its current vice-chair. Based on an idea initially proposed by Mr. Brennan in the early summer, subsequent design discussions finalized the concept and Brower’s funding sealed the arrangements.

Stephanie DeVito, executive director of the Auburn Downtown BID and operations manager of the ERHC stated, “Our continued collaboration and partnership with the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace board is immeasurable.  The gracious gift honoring “Harriet’s Hometown” is immensely appreciated.  A welcomed and beautiful addition to the collection of history and culture that we proudly exhibit will shine a light onto the City of Auburn and our community.  Your generous gift that was bestowed to us by Gilda Brower will continue to live on for future generations.  It is with great pleasure that we will display, honor, educate and continue sharing the great story of Harriet.”

Bill Berry, Jr., chair of the HTCJP was joined by the majority of Board members including Vijay Mital, another founding member and Dr. Lucien Lombardo, the past HTCJP chair. Berry  applauded Ms. Brower’s generosity; thanked DeVito and Kasper for their leadership, and recognized Auburn City government for its proactive and strategic activities to further enrich the life of residents as City Councilor Jimmy Giannettino looked on. 

Kasper echoed similar sentiments, “Thank you to the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace Board for this special surprise. We are honored by the Board’s recognition of our continued efforts to promote Auburn’s rich heritage and shared mission in honoring ‘Harriet’s Hometown’ as a most welcoming city. And a special thank you to Gilda Brower for her kind donation that made the creation of this custom piece possible. We graciously accept this thoughtful gift and are excited to share it with our community and visitors!”

There has been no decision yet as to where the flag will be placed.  

NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center

25 South Street, Auburn, NY 13021

HTCJP flag presentation

bill berry, jr., HTCJP Chair

(left to right) Courtney Rae Kasper, ERHC Visitor Experience Manager, and Stephanie DeVito, Executive Director, Auburn Downtown BID & Operations Manager, Equal Rights Heritage Center (Photo credit: Lisa Brennan, HTCJP Secretary)

Jack Hardy, HTCJP board member, Jimmy Giannettino, City Councilor, and Gilda Brower, HTCJP Vice-Chair

Michael Brennan, CEO, FLX Flags, Abby Bonillo, FLX Flags Associate and bill berry, jr.

Stephanie DeVito, Michael Brennan, and Courtney Rae Kasper

Gilda Brower, Carol Colvin, and Dr. Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson, HTCJP board members

Jack Hardy, Dr. Lou Lombardo, and Kathleen Barnard, HTCJP board members

The Equal Rights Heritage Center and Taste NY Market are open to the public Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 4 p.m. Winter hours will begin November 1 and then the hours of operation will be Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All visitors are required to wear a mask while in the facility. For information about visiting Auburn and its many historic and cultural attractions please go to visitauburnny.com

‘We all can do better’ ~ Social Justice suggestions brought to town hall event

The Citizen Newspaper, June 28, 2020, by Kelly Rocheleau, Reporter

HTCJP Vice-Chair, Gilda Brower speaks at the social justice town hall at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Ceter in Auburn, NY on Saturday, June 27, 2020. (Kelly Rocheleau Photos, The Citizen)

People listen at the social justice town hall at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn, NY on Saturday, June 27, 2020. This event was organized by the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice & Peace in partnership with the Auburn/Cayuga NAACP. (photo by Kelly Rocheleau, The Citizen)

AUBURN — After other recent events in Auburn addressed institutional racism, the social justice town hall held in the city Saturday was meant to allow people to suggest ways to address these issues.Various speakers during the event, at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center, were given two minutes to explain their ideas on social justice change and talk about systemic issues. The forum was organized the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace in partnership with the Auburn/Cayuga branch of the NAACP. Other events, such as a protest in late May through the downtown area and a demonstration earlier this month, have occurred in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by police in Minneapolis."The town hall's purpose is to hear, listen and enable the community to articulate suggestions for social justice," a flier on the center's website said. "Social justice organizations and governmental bodies need to hear your voice as collaborations are developed to implement planned change that will seek to eradicate institutional-driven racism especially when unconsciously embedded in organizational culture or individual implicit bias or microaggressions."

‘We all can do better’

Kelly Rocheleau, The Citizen 06/28/2020

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'What's the plan?': Social justice town hall to be held in Auburn

The Citizen Newspaper, June 24, 2020, written by David Wilcox

Protesters gather around the Harriet Tubman statue to listen to speakers during a demonstration of solidarity for racial justice at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn June 6.

Kevin Rivoli, The Citizen

A social justice town hall will take place Saturday in Auburn, the third community event to address institutional racism since the death of George Floyd during an arrest by Minneapolis police May 25.

However, the purpose of this event will be turning the talk of the previous two into action.

Taking place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center, the event will be structured like a town hall meeting. A series of speakers, each with two minutes, will be asked to offer ideas for achieving social justice in the community. Those ideas will be used to develop a plan to help dismantle institutional racism on a local level, including the unconscious bias and microaggressions that perpetuate it. People can sign up to speak by emailing htcjpauburn@gmail.com. (Face masks, social distancing and other COVID-19 precautions will be required.)

The event is being organized by the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace and the Auburn/Cayuga branch of the NAACP. Bill Berry Jr., chair of the center, said the ideas that are offered will be collected by a social justice task force consisting of members of that organization and the NAACP, as well as the city's Human Rights Commission, Booker T. Washington Community Center, Celebrate! Diverse Auburn and more. The task force was formed after the May 31 protest in downtown Auburn, Berry said, and it sponsored the June 6 demonstration at the heritage center.

Social justice town hall planned for auburn

David Wilcox, features editor, The Citizen 6/24/2020

Be George Floyd's Legacy

bill berry, jr., Chair, Harriet Tubman Center for Justice & Peace, Inc., speaks at a Demonstration of Solidarity for Racial Injustice Event held at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center, Auburn NY on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Organized by the Social Justice Task Force, partners for this event included: Auburn Cayuga Branch NAACP, Auburn Public Theatre, Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace, Harriet Tubman Boosters, Human Rights Commission, Auburn Enlarged City School District, Gwen WebberMcleod - Gwen, Inc., Celebrate Diverse Auburn, City of Auburn, Auburn Police Department, Cayuga County Legislature, Cayuga County Sheriff Department, and Beverly L. Smith Empowerment Initiative.

George Floyd

Say his  name.

Louder.

George Floyd stands as testament to the countless African Americans whose lives have been taken by overt and covert racists who always state that they are not driven by race, not driven by their hate, their indifference. But they are driven.

 George Floyd’s death is a testament to systemic racism and that disease is worse than  covid-19. That disease’s history spans over 400 years and society has not rushed for a vaccine. That racial disease is also silent. You may think you are disease free. You are not. You are asymptomatic. And in this moment, recognize that two pandemics are killing Black people right in front of our eyes. So…

This is my charge to each of you.

Please understand hope without action may make you feel good, but it is killing people who look like me. 

Hope without action is a temporary feel good moment and makes you think you did something…that you stood up.  Hope is not enough…not anymore.

Good intentions fail to embrace the insidious nature of generational racism and that  characteristic is in the DNA of most Americans. All too often, those feel good moments do not evolve into strategic agenda that question the lack of economic opportunities, educational equity, diversity-driven hiring initiatives for African Americans; however, our culture is appropriated by those who want to be like us but not of us.

Demonstrations are singular moments that have become repetitive activities. We shout out each time that the demonstration of the moment is the pivotal catalyst for societal change, for a new beginning, and then the next moment comes along. So, I humbly say take your passion and self-enlightenment and transition those understandings to an activity that challenges, respects but holds accountable those in authority who have been unable to change the racial history of America and your specific community. 

As chair of the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace, we ask you to become a social justice warrior and not just a bystander. Create a legacy for your children and grandchildren’s so they will not have to march and continue to demonstrate in their future. 

As you depart this sacred space grounded in George Floyd’s memory, if you fail to take progressive action; to demand significant change from those you vote for or vote out; if you fail to understand that your demonstration is the first step and not the end goal. Are you then part of the problem or the solution?

Change is difficult. And yet, you must challenge and not wait for good intentions to become your reality. This is your community. Seek strategic action. Make Auburn and America better for everyone

Be George Floyd’s legacy.

Say his name.

Louder.

Thank you. 

bill berry, jr.

June 6, 2020 Equal Rights Heritage Center Demonstration Statement

‘Be George Floyd’s Legacy:

Demonstration for racial justice held in Auburn

Kelly Rocheleau, Reporter The Citizen Newspaper 6/20/2020

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Our view: Progress is real, work remains for racial justice in Cayuga County

The Citizen Editorial Board 6/7/2020

Click to read

“An excerpt from the Sunday, June 7, 2020 The Citizen’s “Our View ,“ ‘Progress is real, but work remains’

….And make no mistake that the spirit of understanding, support and unity on display at Auburn rallies did not just magically appear. Auburn Police Chief Shawn Butler and Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck have been working to address longstanding concerns. A series of community forums called “Connecting Bridges” last fall brought people together for respectful but honest conversations. That program was an offshoot of a collaboration between local public safety agencies and the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace to look at how to recruit and hire more people of color in local police and firefighting positions. Community night out programs and “Coffee with a Cop” have been held multiple times in recent years.

”