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And the future continues to look bright for the Weeksville Heritage
Center. During a recent conversation at the organization’s
offices, Codrington, who previously headed up East Harlem’s
Hi-ARTS, talked about the importance of the center and how,
as a historic site, the organization is equipped not only to
respond to the present moment but think about the future. “We
don’t want to lose anybody, but we definitely want to push the
boundaries,” he says.
What do you think people still don’t understand about
Weeksville?
I think the fact that such a significant free black community
exists in an urban setting, in the middle of the neighborhood. A
common thing people say is, first, “I didn't know this was here.”
And then, “Why didn't I know this was here?” I can tell you
about Weeksville, you can read about it and go to the website.
But you have to come here. You have to see what it means to
have a historic community right next to public housing, right
next to a contemporary art center, and see how all those interact,
and see that that is the fullness of Weeksville.
And the location of the Weeksville Heritage Center matters.
This neighborhood is an asset, one of our biggest assets. And
we're able to do this kind of work among people that look like
the leadership, look like the staff that are doing programs that
allow committee members to see themselves represented in
the work. At the same time, it really is accessible—it's really a
couple more train stops away from Downtown Brooklyn.
In what ways is Weeksville looking to be more than a historical
site or cultural institution?
The exhibition In
Pursuit of Freedom!
inside the Weeksville
Heritage Center’s
2014 building designed
by Caples
Jefferson Architects.
Photo by Susan De
Vries.
Weeksville is able to speak to social issues, like the notion of
being a food desert. Historically, there was farming done at
Weeksville. But the idea that a cultural institution can provide
a service around fresh produce, people don’t realize there is a
service component to Weeksville. We do arts, culture, history,
but this is a vaccination site, a polling site.
Does the community reach out with things they need and
maybe Weeksville can provide?
I think a lot of community members want space—space to convene,
spaces to discuss issues that are important to them. They
want to see exhibitions, programming that deals with the issues
they are dealing with. A lot of the time when I’m here people
will stop by. “Can I talk to the president? Can I talk to who’s in
charge here?” You know, the sense of ownership and engagement
people have with the institution is really interesting and
unique. I haven't really seen it in other places. I've worked at
other institutions where there was strong alignment with the
community, but this is different. They want tools to tell their
own stories, say genealogy, oral history workshops. Notions of
culture, history, representation—they want to see that here and
done in ways that are accessible to them, that they understand.
They want to feel like the institution sees and hears them.
You mentioned ‘pushing the boundaries’ at Weeksville. What
kind of projects are you envisioning for the institution’s
future?
I love the idea of public art installations. The outdoor space here
is calling me. But also, work that looks good both within the
gates at Weeksville and outside, from the street. I’m interested