Douglass Mind Blog

Richard Newman is Professor of History at Rochester Institute of Technology and the author or editor of seven books, including Freedom’s Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the Black Founding Fathers, Abolitionism: A Very Short Introduction, and Pamphlets of Protest: An Anthology of Early African American Protest Literature, 1790-1860 (with Philip Lapsansky and Patrick Rael). He is the former Director of the Library Company of Philadelphia and the book series editor (with Patrick Rael and Manisha Sinha) of “Race in the Atlantic World,” published by the University of Georgia Press. He lives in Frederick Douglass’s Rochester.

Students read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, analyze primary sources related to Anna Murray Douglass and Frederick Douglass, and discuss how abolition can be applied to contemporary challenges. 7th-graders learn from the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives (FDFI), the Antiracism Center at America University, local community members, University of Idaho faculty and students, and the Idaho Black History Museum. Rebekka is passionate about this collaborative work because “We are all living with the remnants of slavery and it is essential that American students (and teachers) understand the structures and biases that allow and encourage discrimination and racism to persist.” 

In 2017, Rebekka was invited by FDFI to create curricula at the U.S Library of Congress with a team of educators in honor of Frederick Douglass’s Bicentennial. In 2018, Rebekka received FDFI and American University’s, FD200 Award for her work as an abolitionist teacher. In the summer of 2019, Rebekka received a Think Open Fellowship from the University of Idaho to write an inquiry-based curriculum about the life of abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor Anna Murray Douglass, with the support of FDFI and historians incorporating resources from the U.S. Library of Congress and the Maryland Archives. 

Rebekka has a B.S. in Geography from Portland State University, a K-8 teaching certificate from California State University, L.A., and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Idaho. She is currently a Wright Fellow and doctoral student. At the University of Idaho, Rebekka is the assistant manager of the Indigenous Knowledge for Effective Education Program where she supports Indigenous scholars pursuing teacher certification in order to teach Indigenous students with a focus on cultural responsiveness. 

He has toured the world serving, experiencing, educating, and inspiring the importance of education and history.  Kevin welcomes those interested in his personable style of educating and motivating the world. Kevin would love to have a conversation with your students, institution, or organization. He provides his time and support to the Frederick Douglass Family Initiative, and the ideals it stands for. Kevin joins the soldiers who continue the wage the war on modern-day enslavement and sex trafficking, in the name of his great, great grandfather Frederick Douglass.

To book Kevin for your next speaking engagement, click here.

Erica attended The Ohio State University with a focus on African/African American Studies. Erica has held several board positions including Crime Stoppers of Central Ohio and a member of ASIS (The American Society of Industrialized Security) for many years and served as the Women in Security Chair and currently holds the position of Legislative Chair in Columbus, OH. Erica is an advocate against human trafficking and domestic violence working with multiple agencies including former Attorney General now Governor Mike DeWine’s Blue Campaign and local domestic violence shelters aiding survivors.

He is currently a National Executive Board member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), an Executive Board member of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), a Board of Director’s member of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence.

Deputy Chief Harris’ philosophy on public service is based on accountability, trust, and respect. He feels that law enforcement agencies, as well as the citizens they serve, are accountable to each other and for the welfare of their community. As such, he believes strongly in establishing partnerships with community stakeholders to address all quality of life concerns. He holds instructor certifications in general topics, firearms, Implicit Bias, and Procedural Justice. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Roberts Wesleyan College in Organizational Management, and he is a graduate of the 244th session of the FBI National Academy.