Book signing and sleepover at Relmagine Lefferts, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY

Prospect Park Alliance has launched ReImagine Lefferts, an initiative to re-envision the mission and programming of the Lefferts Historic House museum to recognize its role as a site of slavery, and tell the stories—in innovative, inclusive and forward-thinking ways—of the enslaved Africans who lived and worked on the Lefferts farm, and the Indigenous people of the Lenapehoking whose unceded ancestral lands the farm rested upon.

The Alliance seeks to engage the public in a thoughtful dialogue about the legacy of slavery and the exploitation of marginalized communities, as well as conduct scholarly research into the people who lived and worked the land. The goal is to create programs and exhibits that bring together people of all ages and backgrounds around challenging issues of history and identity.

By centering the narratives at the museum on those that are underrepresented in the telling of American history, we hope that the visitor experience will become even more reflective of the Brooklyn community, providing a safe space for dialogue about our collective past and contemporary times. With ReImagine Lefferts, the Alliance seeks to address the legacy of slavery and oppression in New York, while also highlighting stories of triumph, resilience, and joy within underrepresented communities.

To accomplish this work, the Alliance is engaging historians, scholars and universities to provide robust research and new source material for educational programming; collaborating with museum professionals, cultural organizations and artists to create content that will support the museum’s new focus; and deepening our relationship with the communities near Lefferts through active conversation and outreach.