Pinkster Day Celebration in Prosepct Park

Community Writing Workshop: Mapping Black History in Brooklyn

February 3, 2025

Calling all writers and artists! This Black History month, join Prospect Park Alliance partners Voices of Lefferts and GrowHouse for a series of free writing workshops to record and map Black history in Brooklyn to create a collective archive. All genres of writing, as well as visual art, are welcome. Those selected will learn about the history of Black Brooklyn with local experts, work with a writing coach, and have their work published! 

These free community workshops will take place every other Saturday from February 22 through May 31 from 3-5 pm at sites throughout Brooklyn, including Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park. 

Sign Up Today: prospectpark.org/mapping-black-history

Space is limited! Sign up by February 14. Participants will be selected and notified by February 18. Questions? Contact info@voicesoflefferts.org

Mapping Black History in Brooklyn marks the 400th anniversary of New York’s founding as “New Amsterdam,” which also marked the occupation of Lenapehoking, the native land of the Lenape, and the enslavement of Africans by the Dutch. This project builds on a Black History and Heritage Corridor established last year by GrowHouse. 

In addition to Lefferts, the workshops will delve into history at the Flatbush African Burial Ground, Center for Brooklyn History and Weeksville Heritage Center. Participants will explore a trove of archives, artifacts and research with experts and public historians, and selected writers will also work with a dedicated writing coach. This community effort will produce new interpretive signage at Black historic and contemporary sites, and will include publishing two special issues of Voices of Lefferts and producing a podcast series.

Writers and artists from across the borough with of all levels of experience are invited to share their stories, reflect on where we’re headed as a nation and to build an archive to combat the erasure of history by those aiming to turn back the clock on the study of history, civil rights, voting rights, reproductive rights and more. Organizers are also looking for community members to conduct oral histories, and volunteers who are willing to share their time, talents and skills on this timely and important project. 

Plus, Calling Young Brooklyn Visual Artists!

GrowHouse’s second annual Youth Design Competition for visual artists ages 15-24 kicks off on Monday, February 10! This is a chance for emerging creatives to showcase their work on signs all over Brooklyn, gain mentorship from professional artists and designers, and compete for a $1,000 cash prize.

Keep an eye out for more details to come in the coming weeks for passionate young artists who want to make an impact through design. Interested? Sign up for updates from GrowHouse to stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks!