Albany’s Underground RR Center gets $2M grant from Assembly

On June 28th the Underground Railroad Education Center (UREC) held a press conference to announce a $2million grant from the New York State Assembly to support the organization’s creation of a new interpretive center in Albany’s Arbor Hill district. In this first segment from the event, NYS Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy announces the grant and explains why UREC — and its co-founders Paul & Mary Liz Stewart — are so important in preserving and sharing the history of Albany. She includes commentary from a historian as well as excerpts from the obituary of Stephen Myers, the African-American abolitionist and Underground Railroad activist, whose residence UREC is restoring. Her Assembly colleague John MacDonald III then outlines the tremendous effort and support from Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie that resulted in the grant. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan later emphasizes the importance of UREC’s efforts, and ends with an invitation for everyone to come to the next UREC event, a Fourth of July oration and celebration at 11 am at the Stephen and Harriet Myers residence at 194 Livingston Avenue. For more details, visit undergroundrailroadhistory.org. Produced by Brea Barthel for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.