The
National Underground Rail Road Family Reunion Festival is an
annual three-day event open to the public which was created
to reunite the descendants of the pioneers who participated
with the Underground Railroad in order that they may have
a forum to share their legacy with the next generation through
various venues.
2003
National Underground Railroad Family Reunion
Festival
Was held in Philadelphia
& surrounding areas that included tours to historical
sites in parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.
The weekend's activities included:
- Sunday morning worship service followed by a UGRR Gospel/Folk
Concert
- Underground Rail Road Exhibits
- Underground Railroad Marketplace
- Induction of statue of William Still (Philadelphia, PA)
- Underground Railroad Gala
- UGRR Book Fair
- Re-enactments & Storytelling
- Oral History Interviews & Genealogy Workshops
- UGRR Parade
MISSION
The mission of the National Underground RailRoad Family Reunion
Festival is to:
- Reunite the descendants of the Underground Railroad under
one forum to allow them to network, and share their legacy
of the UGRR with each other and to educate the public through
the various venues.
- The UGRR Fam Fest will create a multicultural event highlighting
the diversity, cooperation, racial harmony, and healing needed
in this country.
- Implementation of a Regional Tourism Package highlighting
the Underground Railroad within the Northeastern Section
of the U.S
- Tremendously impact the city of Philadelphia and surrounding
counties and states economic status.
- Secure a permanent location within the City of Philadelphia
for exhibits featuring Underground Railroad memorabilia.
- Expand Youth Awareness of the Importance of the UGRR and
its participants through year-long projects.
- To allow the world to note that Philadelphia and the surrounding
states were not just a port of entry into Freedom, but an
intricate part of a network that was responsible for documenting
the plight of enslaved African Americans.
To find out more about The William Still Underground Railroad
Foundation Inc. click on our website at www.undergroundrr.com
