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The Susquehanna 1608 Project & Indigenous Peoples' Rights, Hanover, PA (2026)

07/31/2024

It’s easy & FREE to register for “THE VALLEY Picnic & Justice Jam” this Friday & Saturday (details @ 🔴 below).
👉 1. Register for the FRIDAY events here: https://www.facebook.com/share/6L6uhiZXCMSEP8of/?mibextid=9l3rBW
👉 Register for the SATURDAY events here: https://www.facebook.com/share/uYhSQ658H4kegxfq/?mibextid=9l3rBW

🔴 DETAILS: You and yours are warmly invited to “THE VALLEY Picnic & Justice Jam” (Fri. 8/2 & Sat. 8/3) at the Unitarian Universalist Church of York, 925 S. George St., York, PA (Scroll down ⬇️ to see the amazing Saturday schedule of Justice Jams).

🌸 FRIDAY is “NON-VIOLENT JUSTICE TRAINING DAY”. Learn how to address the issue of conflict without resorting to violence. The free training will begin at 12 NOON and will be conducted by peacemaking experts from Baltimore & Virginia. The amazing John Terlazzo will kick things off with some fabulous music. Kingian Nonviolence comes from the nonviolent methodology of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. This training is free and will end around 4 pm. Details on the training here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wENj6tpzgU563LAz/?mibextid=JOZb8W

➡️➡️➡️ REGISTER FOR THE FRIDAY EVENT (free “Kingian Non-violent Justice Training”) at the link at top of this post.

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🌸🌸 SATURDAY is “JUSTICE JAM DAY”: 11 am - The legendary TEMPLE GUARD DRILL TEAM OF YORK led by community champion Mike Smith will kick things off and we’ll hear spoken word art by The Rev. Carla S. Christopher.

Then at NOON the Justice Jams (short sessions on various topics as listed below) will begin and will continue one after the other until 5 pm. Lunch will be served for free to those who have pre-registered for the SATURDAY EVENTS via link at the top of this post.

Here are the Justice Jams that will proceed one after the other on Saturday starting at 12 NOON (20 - 30 minutes each):

☀️ Justice Jam — “Voting Rights & Getting Out the Vote: Kadida Kenner, CEO, The New PA Project, and Rick Hicks”

☀️ Justice Jam — “Ending Poverty and Starting Living Wages: Tammy Rosing, Tri-Chair of the Pennsylvania Poor People’s Campaign a National Call for Moral Revival, a Coordinator with Put People First! PA & the National Union of the Homeless”

☀️ 1 pm — LUNCH is free for those pre-registered via Ticket Leap link below (Vegetarian lasagna, salad, tea, lemonade, juice, coffee & water).

☀️ 1:30 pm: Justice Jam — “Reclaiming School Boards for Dignity for All: Danielle Gross, West Shore School District”

☀️ Justice Jam — "The Housing Dignity Bill Of Rights and Quests For Zero Homelessness"

☀️ Justice Jam — “Ending Gun Violence & Achieving Universal Body Cameras”

☀️ Justice Jam — “Food Justice: The Food Revolution: Guaranteeing Food Security and Ending Food Deserts.”

☀️ Justice Jam — “LGBT+ Youth Mental Health and Open and Affirming Places of Worship”
Exhortation Prayer: Rev. Jesse North, Pastor, Wrightsville Presbyterian Church, Co-Pastor, Grandview Church. Presenters: Pastor Christopher Rodkey and Friends.

☀️ Justice Jam — “Cleaning House: Making Government Ethical & Effective.” March on Harrisburg's Jeff Keyser & Steve Snell, an Administrator of THE VALLEY, will speak on Ranked Choice Voting & the Gift Ban.

More details for this exciting afternoon here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/NHWr3zEdqoRA4s2G/?mibextid=9l3rBW

The events on Saturday are free (and so is lunch on Saturday for those who pre-register through the link at the top of this post ⬆️).

🌸 Various awards will be given out between justice jams (including to Bobby Simpson - CEO of Crispus Attucks and Representative Carol Hill-Evans).

A shout out to our 290 Admins & moderators of THE VALLEY and our 15,000 monthly visitors. You all have inspired this event and make THE VALLEY a stronger force for justice every day.

A big shout out also to Matthew Jackson who put so much energy and effort into planning this amazing two day event!!!!

12/01/2023

MJ Consulting and THE VALLEY: People Power and Community in the Susquehanna Valley are delighted to work with the International Sites of Conscience (ISC), a worldwide network of Sites of Conscience — historic sites, museums and memory initiatives – "that activate the power of places of memory to engage the public with a deeper understanding of the past and inspire action to shape a just future."

From the Sites of Conscience website: "The Coalition supports its members in many ways, including providing direct funding for civic engagement programs; introducing members to a global network of similarly minded sites, helping them establish best practices and new partnerships; organizing leadership and program development opportunities; offering dialog training; and conducting strategic advocacy for individual members and the Sites of Conscience movement as a whole."

The Coalition includes more than 200 members in 55 countries. To learn more, log onto the Coalition’s dynamic site: https://www.sitesofconscience.org

In 2020, I was grateful to collaborate with the York College Center for Community Engagement to host a Sites of Conscience Associate from D.C. for a day-long visit to York.

Thank you 🙏🏼 to all leaders and supporters for giving energy and support to efforts that led to the Goodridge Freedom House and Underground Railroad Museum becoming the first (and still the only, though that likely will change soon) Site of Conscience in York and Lancaster Counties. The Goodridge house was one of the first projects I facilitated in York 20 years ago, and it holds a special place in my heart!

MJ Consulting and THE VALLEY are planning a Zoom on December 13 with two International Sites of Conscience associates, a historian colleagues from Lancaster and York Counties, and stakeholders.

If you’re interested in this opportunity or other ways that ISC can help tell our authentic histories and bolster our tourism product, please contact me.

It seems to me that the stars are starting to align in the Valley to boldly tell our full, rich, diverse stories of human rights and quests for freedom and human dignity.

What is more, ISC designations can be wonderful feathers in our cap to complement other forward-thinking diversity, equity, inclusion, acceptance and belonging efforts.

Perhaps the Susquehanna Valley could boast and cross-promote several Sites of Conscience as a Susquehanna Valley Conscience Trail? It's within our reach.

Please let me know at your earliest convenience if you're interested in keeping the conversation going, and I'll be sure to sync with you in the near future. Thanks so much for your consideration and for all you do!

Best regards,
Matthew Jackson
MJ Consulting
717-451-7399

P.S. Criteria for International Sites of Conscience membership are that sites:
• Interpret history through the site,
• Engage the public in programs that stimulate dialogue on pressing social issues,
• Share opportunities for public involvement and positive action on the issues raised at the site,
• Promote justice and universal cultures of human rights.

Preserving Memory Promoting Truth Pursuing Justice Discover More News and Updates Featured News A Reflection: Perspective and Peace in Palestine For over two weeks, the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience has followed with the utmost attention the horror unfolding in Israel and Gaza. As a...

11/11/2023

https://www.facebook.com/share/A6YgD1vjPV4L2w6r/?mibextid=7eNqk6

Susquehanna National Heritage Area hosted a sold-out lecture, by petroglyph expert Paul Nevin, exploring the practices Native Americans employed to survive cold Northern winters.

11/03/2023

1. Write an e-mail to the powers that be and / or letter to editor of newspaper about issues and topics here on The Susquehanna 1608 Project.
2. Comment on posts on this page. What do you think?
3. Share this page on FB and tell your friends.
4. Like & follow this page.
5. Write a Facebook Review of our Page.
6. Add your name to our public advocacy letters when you see them posted. (You can do this simply by commenting below the posts when they’re made).
7. Ask to be a Content Manager of the Page. (Just comment below).
8. Join our email database for updates. (Simply comment below and include your email address).
9. Help host a coffee chat about topics on this page or THE VALLEY. And / or host a VALLEY RALLY in your neighborhood. Just comment below for more this post for more info and a Valley admin will contact you.
10. Discuss with fellow community builders. Word of mouth and these acts help create groundswells of grassroots influence.

* Thanks for your advocacy. It is greatly valued.

* You can contact THE VALLEY admin team by simply commenting on this post. (Feel free to include your email and an admin will contact you privately. Or, if you prefer, we can contact you via messenger).

10/12/2023

The Susquehanna 1608 Project ( https://www.facebook.com/The-Susquehanna-1616-Project-100456835321440 ) and Indigenous Peoples Rights blends together places of social meaning, feeling and healing with over 100 quality resources and videos to teachers, students, administrators, journalists and lifelong learners to enhance our Awareness, Wisdom and Empathy (AWE) of all peoples who have lived & enriched the Susquehanna Valley in Pennsylvania and beyond. This crowd-sourced collection of the People's History of the Susquehanna Valley is based on recommendations from educators, editors & the Diversity Committee of Central York School District. As part of THE VALLEY's (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1019957458208273)
free culture-mission, these resources are shared to inspire, complement and enhance the education of all by all about all. As believers in crowd-sourced knowledge and progress, we humbly know our project is a work-in-progress. It is not intended to be complete or exclusive. It's intended to serve and to inspire. If you have suggestions, please let us know. We love to learn from you!

"The Susquehanna 1608 Project" refers to the Susquehanna River, which winds from Maryland to Pennsylvania and is where English Captain John Smith first met Native Americans whom the English called "Susquehannocks." The year 1616 marks the year that the first European explorer, Frenchman Etienne Brule, traveled to present-day York County via the Susquehanna River to the Chesapeake Bay. From historian Georg Sheets' To The Setting of the Sun (1981): “[Explorer] Etienne Brule (then working as an interpreter for Samuel de Champlain)” “became the first white man actually to set foot in the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” According to Sheets, by 1765, only 149 years after Brule arrived here, a few remaining, original Susquehannocks of what we know as York County departed westward from Indian Steps in Lower Chanceford Township.

I. REGIONAL RESOURCES ON THE PEOPLE'S HISTORY

🔶Jim Kalish's The Story of Civil Rights In York, to date the most comprehensive chronicling of the people's history of York County:
Part 1: [https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:a91390da-cd12-4032-87cb-0bf50eab0ac3](https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review...)
Part 2: [https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:4d9cee46-2d95-4d5d-9796-6505fa4211cd](https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review...)

🔶Coming soon!: Free downloads of George Shumway's The Charrette at York, about candid civic group meetings that yielded real social results in the 1970s. Charrette is French for "cart" and has come to mean "carting together" ideas from design groups.

🔶Bryan Wade's ground-breaking Keystones Oral History Series:
https://www.facebook.com/Keystones-Oral-History-Series.../
Keystones Chapter 2: The Underground Railroad: https://www.facebook.com/bryan.wade.56/videos/10208805216084444
Keystones Chapter 3: Genealogy
https://www.facebook.com/bryan.wade.56/videos/10208812007014213
Keystones Chapter 6: The Kirklands
https://www.facebook.com/bryan.wade.56/videos/10208820305261664
Keystones Chapter 7: Uniting a Community:
https://www.facebook.com/bryan.wade.56/videos/10208808240640056

🔶An amazing virtual Black History Museum and collection of vivid photographs by Jeff Kirkland:
http://yorkblackhistory.com/

🔶Also, Jeff Kirkland's York African-American Historical Society: https://www.facebook.com/yorksblackhistory/.

🔶The dean of York County history, Jim McClure has culled together a fine collection of links, many to free downloads at: https://yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/york-county-black-history/

🔶Jim has done the same with Hispanic and Latino history at: https://yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/york-county-latino-history/

II. STATE AND NATIONAL FACING HISTORY AND ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES

PA Department of Education: https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/equityandinclusion/Pages/default.aspx

https://www.tolerance.org

https://facinghistory.org

https://zinnedproject.org

Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards:
https://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/2017-06/TT_Social_Justice_Standards_0.pdf

Teaching Tolerance: Discussing Race, Racism, and other Difficult Topics with Students:
http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/TT%20Difficult%20Conversations%20web.pdf

Unboxing Equity For Educators:
https://www.teacher2teacher.education/2020/06/18/love-is-an-action/

Curated Anti-Racism resources for educators:
http://bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES

Nearpod Racial Justice Guide:
https://nearpod.com/blog/racial-justice-resource-guide/

The 306 African-American high school curriculum (free for teachers):
https://everfi.com/courses/k-12/online-african-american-history-curriculum/

Beautifully rendered virtual slideshow of The New York Times 1619 Project: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html

III. VIDEOS & PRESENTATIONS

Iconic Anti-racism educator Jane Elliott's (of Oprah fame) address to York County: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mySyrxNtVno&feature=youtu.be

Jane Elliot’s variety of videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpGwCuF2hVma_xi8uLmwwrc5e6d8Zt3d4.

A Message to Central School District by Niema Abdullah: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X7mSuG5HiGbvyyKYfRIFs82hA8tHSETr/view?usp=sharing

I Am NOT Black, You are NOT White: https://youtu.be/q0qD2K2RWkc

Ouch! That Stereotype Hurts Training: https://www.diversityinclusioncenter.com/ouch-series/ouch-stereotype-hurts/

Ouch! That Stereotype Hurts Leader Guide PDF:https://www.diversityinclusioncenter.com/downloads/Ouch_Stereotypes_LeadersGuide.pdf

Ouch! That Stereotype Hurts Participant Handout PDF:https://library.osu.edu/documents/human-resources/Diversity/OUCH!%20Participant%20Handouts.pdf

TEDx talk of Camara Jones MD on Allegories on race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNhcY6fTyBM

Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms: A Response to Racism in America: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/classroommanagement20200708

IV. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

A tragic ethnocentric progenitor of "Americanizing" Native Americans to an immersive case study of resilience and dignity. https://carlisleindianschoolproject.com/

The Zinn Educational Project's suggested ways to engage students:
https://www.zinnedproject.org/campaigns/abolish-columbus-day/resources/

V. VISIONS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA

IN YORK AND LANCASTER COUNTIES:

Susquehanna Riverlands
http://susquehannariverlands.com/

Susquehanna National Heritage Area
https://www.facebook.com/SusquehannaNationalHeritageArea

https://www.susquehannaheritage.org/discover-river-history/river-art/

Indian Steps Museum in York County
https://indiansteps.org/

THE SUSQUEHANNA AS A WHOLE

If there is a more talented, sensitive, historically aware artist of the Susquehanna River, we are unaware. He is a living legend and deserves a York Is More lifetime artistic achievement award:
http://robevansart.net/id175.html

Mapping the Susquehanna Valley by Bucknell University:
http://storiesofthesusquehanna.blogs.bucknell.edu/mapping-the-valley/

Utopian Dreams on the Susquehanna, PBS (2016): A stirring documentary about visions of community and freedom on the Susquehanna: https://www.pbs.org/video/wvia-special-presentations-utopian-dreams/ For centuries, the Susquehanna has inspired and sustained visionaries, poets, prophets, philosophers and political refugees.

Visions of the Susquehanna by Bucknell University:
http://susquehannastories.blogs.bucknell.edu/2014/08/29/visions-of-the-susquehanna/

Envision the Susquehanna: To protect, enhance, and promote the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the Susquehanna River watershed, to support community-based solutions to conserving the watershed and its most critical landscapes, and to encourage synergy of such efforts locally and regionally.
http://envisionthesusquehanna.org/

VI. PLACES OF MEANING, FEELING & HEALING

International Sites of Conscience:
https://www.sitesofconscience.org/en/home/

York Is More has been an original inspiration for Witnessing York, chronicling places of reflection on social history in York County: https://www.witnessingyork.com/

The Goodridge Freedom Center is the first and only International Site of Conscience in York and Lancaster Counties: https://www.goodridgefreedomcenter.org/

Nearby International Site of Conscience family member Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum: http://www.seminaryridgemuseum.org/

A tragic ethnocentric progenitor of "Americanizing" Native Americans to an immersive case study of resilience and dignity. https://carlisleindianschoolproject.com/

Friends of Lebanon Cemetery in York:
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsO
VII. ANTI-RACISM BOOKS & ARTICLES

Antiracist work in schools: Are you in it for the long haul?: https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/antiracist-work-in-schools-are-you-in-it-for-the-long-haul

Being Antiracist | National Museum of African American History and Culture:
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/being-antiracist

List for Educators: https://culturallyresponsiveleadership.com/antiracistbooks/

List for Learners: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bIdOmyjGMx6HHAzI5aYXroA_4qohkA-YJXMqfTrk_Dk/edit

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations about Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad

Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara Ahmed

Read the World: Rethinking Literacy for Empathy and Action in a

Digital Age by Kristin Ziemke and Katie Muhtaris

This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewel- Educator Guide:https://www.quartoknows.com/dynamic/files/product_file/TBIAR-teaching-guideV3-2-4013.pdf

Can we talk about race? Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD

Beyond Theory: A Blueprint To Implement African-Centered Education, by ABENA WALKER

Our Favorite African Adrinkra Symbols: A Coloring Book by ABENA WALKER

Shining Legacy: A Treasury of Storypoems and Tales for the Young So Black Heroes Forever Will Be Sung by Nkechi Taifa (1983-06-06)
Diversity Committee Resources

So You Want to Ralk About Rase by Ileoma Oluo : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35099718-so-you-want-to-talk-about-race

VIII. HOLOCAUST RESOURCES

IX. LGBT-plus

🔶 The York History Center's new virtual exhibit story map, In Plain Sight: York's Hidden LGBT History, covers part of the hidden and often-ignored story of York's LGBT+ population. https://www.yorkhistorycenter.org/york-pa-museums/in-plain-sight

X. DOCUMENTARIES

The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross, a 6-part PBS documentary.

I am not Your Negro, a documentary based on the writings of James Baldwin.

Rap on Race, a spirited dialog between author and activist James Baldwin and anthropologist Margaret Mead.

XI. GENERAL PEOPLES HISTORY

York County Libraries: https://www.yorklibraries.org/york-martin/
To access a great selection here in York County and throughout Pennsylvania, visit one of your 13 York County libraries.

Georg Sheets, To The Setting of the Sun (1981)
https://www.yorkhistorycenter.org

https://zinnedproject.org

If you have questions or suggestions related to the Susquehanna 1608 Project, please feel free to contact the project’s founder, Matthew Jackson, at [email protected] .

https://www.facebook.com/The-Susquehanna-1616-Project-100456835321440