Africatown Middle Passage Convening

In July 2026, Africatown will welcome descendants, young leaders, educators, preservationists, faith representatives, artists, historians, and others from U.S. Middle Passage arrival communities and beyond for a historic gathering rooted in remembrance, truth-telling, healing, preservation, and collective action.

Anchored by the Africatown Connections Blueway and grounded in the story of the Clotilda survivors, the Africatown Middle Passage Convening invites participants to explore the continuing legacy of the Middle Passage and the responsibilities that living communities now carry.

The convening is organized around four interconnected sessions:

• The Africatown Middle Passage Convening Kickoff at Lewis Landing grounds participants in remembrance, ceremony, and ancestral connection.
• The Young Leaders Summit elevates young voices and explores social justice, civic engagement, and strategies for creating meaningful change.
• The Preservation and Documentation Workshop examines how communities can protect stories, landscapes, oral histories, and cultural resources connected to the Middle Passage.
• The Closing Convening and Next Steps Session transforms remembrance into action by bringing participants together to envision future collaboration, shared priorities, and collective stewardship.

The Africatown Middle Passage Convening is intended to be more than a gathering. It is the beginning of an ongoing movement dedicated to ensuring that the stories and lessons of the Middle Passage continue to guide future generations.