Elaine Cawley Weintraub
Twenty years ago, the African American Heritage Trail
History Project was born. Its mission was to research and disseminate the story of people of color on Martha’s Vineyard and to celebrate those stories by placing a series of engraved bronze plaques throughout the Island. In the early days, the goal was to have four sites that would be visible to all, and perhaps some day more could be added. There are now 30 sites and more to come.
The Bradley Memorial, the first African American church on the Vineyard, was demolished last week.
I began teaching 25 years ago, inspired by the notion that all students could learn and each and every one was entitled to be welcomed.
The African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard began as a dream.
During April vacation, students of the Irish history and culture class at the regional high school will be attending the centenary of the Easter Rising in Dublin.
Summer days are over and another school year begins. There’s a spirit of hopefulness.