Storytelling for Truth and Healing

Creates and executes a management plan to ensure the long-term preservation, maintenance, and sustainability of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center and its programs.

Provides videos, lesson plans, and discussion materials about freedom seekers and the Underground Railroad for use by educators, students, and the public to extend the reach of its educational mission.

Engages in public education initiatives focused on the history of the Underground Railroad and abolitionism in Niagara Falls, including through exhibitions, tours, events, and educational resources.

Organizes and hosts events throughout the year to recognize and honor the stories of Underground Railroad freedom seekers and others who advanced the cause of freedom, reinforcing community engagement with local history.

Preserves and makes available a collection of records, surveys, photographs, artworks, memoirs, and property records related to the Underground Railroad, abolitionism, Black activism, and Niagara Falls history, supporting research and public education.

Provides daily guided tours—twice daily Tuesday through Sunday during summer months—that engage visitors in dialogue about their personal experiences to foster deeper connections with the stories of Underground Railroad freedom seekers and abolitionists in Niagara Falls.

Opened in May 2018 in the historic 1863 U.S. Customs House, the Heritage Center serves as a public-facing museum and educational facility dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of the Underground Railroad in Niagara Falls.

This permanent exhibition centers the narratives of self-emancipation by freedom seekers, highlights the role of local geography and African American residents in the Underground Railroad, and draws connections between historical struggles and contemporary social justice issues to encourage visitor reflection and civic engagement.

Offers virtual tours for groups of 10 or more, led by Visitor Experience Staff, that explore the history of slavery and the pursuit of freedom, making educational programming accessible beyond in-person visitors.

Offers for sale merchandise that supports public education about Black history and the Underground Railroad, with proceeds likely supporting the organization’s mission.

Participates in the Interim Planning Committee, Steering Committee, and Descendant’s Council to contribute expertise and community representation to the development of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway in New York State.

Establishes and presents the annual Gilbert Baker Award during Pride festivities in San Francisco to honor contributions to LGBTQ+ visibility and equality.

Leads advocacy campaigns to oppose and overturn bans on the display of LGBTQ+ flags, including the Rainbow Flag and Progress Flag, through grassroots toolkits, legal collaboration with the ACLU, public education, and direct legal action, such as filing federal lawsuits and supporting challenges to local bans.

Organizes and presents traveling exhibitions of Rainbow Flag artwork and history, including installations at the LGBT Community Center in New York City, the 2024 Paris Olympics, and simultaneous displays in San Francisco and New York, as well as conceptual designs for permanent installations at NYC Hall and other civic sites.

Designs and deploys monumental Rainbow Flags and commemorative banners for Pride events, political marches, and international commemorations, including a mile-long flag for the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a 1.25-mile flag in Key West, and banners for the Democratic Convention, Pulse Nightclub Massacre, and Rise and Resist movement.

Preserves the historic legacy of Gilbert Baker and the Rainbow Flag through educational initiatives, exhibits, digital storytelling, and archival efforts, including translating the original eight-color Rainbow Flag's Pantone colors into additional color systems for future use.

Successfully advocated for the reinstatement of the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument after its removal and filed legal actions to protect the right to display LGBTQ+ flags at this and other protected sites.

Facilitates the donation of Gilbert Baker Rainbow Flags to LGBTQ+ activists internationally, including in Ukraine, and supports global visibility efforts through the Flag in the Map project, which collects and exhibits photographs and stories of Pride Flags from around the world.