Created and led by Dr. Gaila Sims, Curator of African American History and FAM’s VP of Programs and Interpretation.
Fredericksburg, VA (January 9, 2025) — The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) is proud to announce the launch of a new monthly program series, A Space of Our Own: Black Women in Community, designed to honor and connect Black women in the region. Created and led by Dr. Gaila Sims, FAM’s Vice President of Programs and Interpretation and Curator of African American History, this program is inspired by the powerful legacy of African American women who have shaped Fredericksburg’s history.
The first gathering will take place on Thursday, January 16th, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the museum’s third floor. Subsequent meetings will occur on the third Thursday of each month, with the next two dates scheduled for February 20th and March 20th.
Fredericksburg has long benefitted from the talent, ingenuity, and activism of African American women, from the enslaved women who performed domestic and agricultural labor on area plantations, to the free women who clandestinely taught local children to read, to the community organizers who led the sit-in movement in the mid-twentieth century, to contemporary leaders in local arts, education, music, business, and nonprofit organizations. There is a long legacy of Black women’s community work in this area, and the FAM is honored to be able to give back just a little to those who have given so much.
The program aims to provide an inclusive space for Black women of all ages and backgrounds to come together for conversation, relaxation, and support. Intergenerational dialogue, networking, and communal care will be at the heart of each gathering. Light refreshments, craft supplies, and conversation starters will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring board games, puzzles, art supplies, or snacks to share. Trusted allies are welcome, but the program prioritizes Black women’s experiences and needs.
Reflecting on the program’s mission, Dr. Sims shared:
“I count myself among an incredibly long and deeply important legacy of African American women. From the Black women from whom I am descended, to the Black women who taught me how to do historical research, from the Black women activists who have done so much for this country, to the Black women I count among my family, friends, and colleagues in Fredericksburg, I have been the beneficiary of so much love and support, and I hope that this program conveys even a small amount of my gratitude for the community of Black women of which I am part.”
For more information, contact Dr. Gaila Sims at [email protected].