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Many thanks to our sponsor!
Generational Voices™ Community Engagement Rollout
Community Storytelling narratives!
Interactive Workshops: online & in person!
filmed docu-series: all around town!
Engage with stories that celebrate resilience, faith, and cultural pride, bringing to life the narratives of Yardley Borough's African American community through video presentations and facilitated discussions.
📽️ Project Highlights:
- Phase I: Individual Narratives
Twelve video interviews capture personal stories from Yardl
Engage with stories that celebrate resilience, faith, and cultural pride, bringing to life the narratives of Yardley Borough's African American community through video presentations and facilitated discussions.
📽️ Project Highlights:
- Phase I: Individual Narratives
Twelve video interviews capture personal stories from Yardley residents, historians, and descendants of prominent African American families, weaving their resilience and cultural pride into a powerful compilation video. - Phase II: Docuseries
A five-episode series expands on these narratives, highlighting key Yardley landmarks and incorporating historical photos, documents, and reflections on African American history, including Underground Railroad sites and community contributions.
filmed docu-series: all around town!
Interactive Workshops: online & in person!
filmed docu-series: all around town!
Generational Voices™ Project
includes personal interviews and historical insights. Discover the rich heritage of Yardley Borough's
forgotten neighborhood people
and other historic landmarks:
- The AME Church of Yardley
- The Boatyard
- The Flats
- The Old Library at Afton Lake
- The Historic Delaware Canal
- Underground Railroad Sites
Interactive Workshops: online & in person!
Interactive Workshops: online & in person!
Interactive Workshops: online & in person!
Participate in workshops focused on storytelling, history preservation, and community building. These sessions invite participants to explore their own connections to local history while learning about the broader context of Yardley’s African American and its Quaker founder's legacy.
- Access online archives featuring rare phot
Participate in workshops focused on storytelling, history preservation, and community building. These sessions invite participants to explore their own connections to local history while learning about the broader context of Yardley’s African American and its Quaker founder's legacy.
- Access online archives featuring rare photos, documents, and interviews from the Generational Voices™ Project.
- Explore mobile exhibits and educational materials brought directly to schools, libraries, and community centers.
welcome!
Gather Place Museum proudly presents the Generational Voices™ Project, a heartfelt initiative to celebrate and preserve the rich heritage of Yardley Borough’s African American community. Anchored at the Historic African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Yardley (est. 1877), this project brings to life the stories of resilience, faith, and the remarkable contributions that shaped our town’s history.
🎉 Honored and Supported:
The 2024 National Trust for Historic Preservation – Preserving Black Churches Grant, funded by the Lilly Foundation, has recognized the significance of this work. From over 500 applicants nationwide, our proposal was one of just 31 selected for funding. Together with the expertise of Bob Lott (Teamwork Productions) and Keli Ganey (Ganey Films), this project ensures a polished and powerful presentation.
✨ Why It Matters:
- Historic Figures: Celebrates Edward Robinson, Yardley’s first African American mayor and a descendant of the Derry family, and highlights the profound impact of African American neighborhoods and their contributions to Yardley’s growth.
- Community Contributions: Honors the essential, often grueling labor of working-class African American residents who built the physical and social foundations of Yardley.
- Faith and Resilience: Highlights Yardley’s three African American churches, which have been spiritual and cultural anchors since the 1800s, fostering strength and community.
🏛️ Historical and Cultural Significance:
The AME Church of Yardley, now home to Gather Place Museum, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized by the Bucks County Heritage Conservancy. Established in 1817 as the "Free Peoples Church," this site began as a hay press barn on the historic Boatyard lot, serving as a sanctuary for African American worshippers and a pivotal location on the Underground Railroad. Built in 1877 by congregants from Trenton, NJ, this landmark remains a testament to the enduring legacy of Yardley’s African American community.
💡 Impact and Legacy:
Through professionally edited videos, a five-episode docuseries, and interactive digital archives, the Generational Voices™ Project ensures the powerful history of Yardley Borough’s African American community is preserved, accessible, and celebrated for generations to come.