A message from Paula on the 250th

July 1, 2026

Friends and partners,

As Executive Director of Discovering Amistad, I’m honored to invite you to mark America’s 250th year by reflecting on a story that continues to guide our path forward: the 1839 Amistad uprising and the courageous pursuit of freedom led by the 53 Mende Africans. Their journey—from resistance at sea to a landmark Supreme Court decision affirming their liberty—reminds us that the American experiment is at its best when it bends toward justice, community, and shared humanity.

America’s 250th is an opportunity to acknowledge the importance of addressing the inequities that are still woven into the fabric of this country.  At Discovering Amistad, we are committed to utilizing the Amistad Freedom Schooner as a platform to share stories of “unsung heroes” that contributed greatly to American History.

This Semiquincentennial year, Discovering Amistad is carrying that legacy into classrooms, libraries, museums, and community venues across the region. While our schooner remains docked this season as we complete the work to secure and install new masts, our mission is powerfully underway on shore. Our educators, crew, and storytellers are engaging students, families, and community leaders in programs that connect the Amistad story to today’s work for equity and civic participation.

Here’s how you can join us:

• Engage with our 250th programming. We’re partnering with institutions across Connecticut and the Northeast for talks, living‑history events, and hands‑on learning experiences that illuminate the Amistad case and its modern resonances. Visit here often for the most up‑to‑date schedule.

• Bring students aboard.  Our shipboard curriculum travels with us. Whether on the pier, in a library, or in your school, students explore leadership, resilience, and civic voice through the lens of Sengbe Pieh’s ingenuity and the community that rallied for justice.

• Help us rig the future. We are in a multi‑year effort to fund and step new masts so the Amistad can sail again. Your support — through donations, sponsorships, or introductions —directly restores this “freedom schooner” and keeps its lessons alive for the next generation.

• Host a conversation. The Amistad story is a bridge. We’d be honored to partner with your organization to convene dialogue on freedom, belonging, and the responsibilities of citizenship at 250 years.

America 250 is not only a birthday; it is a mirror. The Amistad teaches that progress is made when ordinary people act with courage, when communities stand together, and when institutions honor the promise of the law. As we celebrate this milestone, let’s recommit to that work — locally, tangibly, and with hope.

Thank you for walking with us. I look forward to seeing you at an event this season and welcoming you aboard when the Amistad returns for the 2027 Voyage for Freedom..

With gratitude and resolve,

Paula Mann-Agnew CSW, MSW
Executive Director
Discovering Amistad

Honoring History:
The Life and Legacy of James Mars

Discovering Amistad and Connecticut’s Old State House presented "In His Footsteps: A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of James Mars” this past Spring.

The event commemorated James Mars — born into slavery in Connecticut in 1790 — who authored his own memoir and spent his life advocating for true liberty and justice. The evening featured an inspiring keynote address by his descendant, Rev. Dr. Shelley D. Best, who reflected on the power of historical narrative, agency, and leadership in shaping our shared future.

Missed the live event? You can now watch the full recording to explore this powerful story of courage, heritage, and resilience.

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-feIDAVtWlU 

Learn more: https://www.discoveringamistad.org/news-events/james-mars-event

Through the lens of the fight for freedom of the Amistad Uprising of 1839, we educate and collaborate to dismantle systemic racism and to achieve continue the fight for justice & equality today.

From our Board of Directors to the Amistad crew to our communities, funders and partners, we are in this together.

Discover how we educate and collaborate aboard our schooner, in classrooms, online and at historic institutions to facilitate learning, dialogue, action and ultimately, change.

Upcoming Events – Discover where we are and where we’re going. We hope you will join us.