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UCAC and past President Michael Brown Honored for Outstanding Community Service!
St. Mary’s Branch of the NAACP celebrated its 75TH Anniversary with a Freedom Fund Jazz Brunch on October 1, 2022. Honorees for “Outstanding Community Service” included the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC) as well as its former president, Michael Brown.
The award for UCAC specified “the leadership provided in the development of the African American Monument of St. Mary’s County, which recognizes the contributions of African Americans, and the United States Colored Troops Memorial Monument, which honors soldiers and sailors from St. Mary’s County who fought in the Civil War including three Medal of Honor awardees.” NAACP also commends UCAC “for recording and sharing the oral histories of African American citizens; publishing the book In Relentless Pursuit of an Education: African American Stories from a Century of Segregation; and sponsoring Juneteenth for 18 years.”
Photo by: Ceandra Scott
Picture to left: UCAC President Nathaniel Lawrence with board member Janice Walthour
UCAC Past President Michael Brown received an individual “Outstanding Community Service” award from the NAACP for his contributions as a volunteer for many non-profits, public school committees, and county boards. He served as PTA president in his children’s schools, and has served on the Guardian Board, Citizen Advisory Board, Museum Board, and the YMCA Exploratory Committee. He is past president of the St. Mary’s Arts Council and, following in his father Elmer Brown’s footsteps, has chaired the Annual UCAC Juneteenth Celebration for 17 years.
Photo by: Ceandra Scott
Picture to right: UCAC Members at the opening of the “17 Men” USCT Exhibit
The Seventeen Men Exhibit: A Traveling American Civil War Display in St. Mary's County | Open: Sept 7 - Dec 20
This special exhibit highlights the 25th United States Colored Troops (USCT) that served in the Pensacola Bay Area during and immediately after the Civil War. The exhibit features life-sized portraits of seventeen members of the 25th USCT, Company G, which were created by artist Shayne Davidson. The portraits are based on a locket-sized photo album which includes a photo of each man and all but one of their names. The original album is in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. In addition to the portraits, information about the USCT and all Civil War Soldiers and Sailors from St. Mary’s County who served in the War will be available.
In Her Own Words: Eliza Isabel Waters
Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions members were saddened to learn of the recent passing at age 93, of Eliza Isabel Waters. We are so grateful to have a recording of her video interview and we are happy to be able to share it here.
UCAC History and Research Committee members interviewed Ms. Waters on October 19, 2016. She was then one of five surviving students of Drayden African American School in Drayden, MD. The school operated from 1890 to 1942 during the era of segregated schooling.
Dr. Meenakshi Brewster receives the UCAC President's Award
Mike Brown, Juneteenth Chairman presented Dr. Brewster the UCAC President’s Award for the doctors work and the health department staff
in protecting the St. Mary's County citizens for the past 2 years from Covid 19.
Southern Maryland Chapter of Jack and Jill Fundraiser
Jack and Jill of America, Inc., is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2 – 19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.
Bitmoji Classrooms
Organizations around St. Mary's County created Bitmoji classrooms* to showcase local history resources and to encourage more visitation from our schools and community. Content aligns with 4th and 5th grade curriculum, but the Bitmoji pages have resources for students of all ages!
*A Bitmoji classroom is a virtual classroom where educators can deliver content to students in a fun and engaging way.
UCAC & NAACP volunteers worked with the Museum Division to develop sections on Drayden School, the UCAC monuments.
For more information, contact:
Adrianne” Dillahunt, Equity Assurance Coordinator for SMCPS
301-475-5511
Also, learn more about Elmer Brown Freedom Park
what we've accomplished
Historic Sites
Juneteenth Celebration
Historic Sites
Marked 21 Historic Sites of African American in St. Mary's began in 1934.
Oral Histories
Juneteenth Celebration
Historic Sites
Logged 175+ Oral Histories of African American life in St. Mary's County.
Online Depository
Juneteenth Celebration
Juneteenth Celebration
Created an Online Depository for African American Experiences.
Juneteenth Celebration
Juneteenth Celebration
Juneteenth Celebration
Host the Annual African American Heritage Celebration Family Event in St. Mary's County.