Recent Updates

March to Dedication Celebration

Saturday, March 9

Join us for the mile-long march or watch a live stream of the march at the Thelma Burns Building.

Anticipate hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, and a closer look at the largest public art project in the city.

Locations

Dedication Mile-long March/Stream
Lot at the corner of Julian & Blue Hill Avenue
156 Blue Hill Ave
Sat March 9th, 10:30am

Speaking Program & Celebration
Thelma Burns Building
575 Warren St
Sat March 9th, 12:00pm

Photos

About Black Women Lead

Greater Grove Hall Main Streets (GGHMS), in partnership with the New England Patriots Foundation, has announced the inaugural members of the Black Women Lead project. 212 of Boston’s most admired, beloved, and successful Black Women leaders are being featured on banners stretching for two miles along Blue Hill Avenue, making this exhibit the largest public art project in the city.

These women shaped Boston through their work in arts and culture, legislation, health, education, community building and raising future generations of leaders, further improving the quality of life for everyone in the city.

Each banner features a commissioned portrait for each woman, her name and certain credentials. Accompanying historical information, compiled from research by Boston Public Library and Northeastern University, is being collected for a Wikipedia page for each honoree.

“We live in a city where history has shined brightly on the contributions made by those of Irish and Italian heritage, not to mention the ‘Boston Brahmins.’ But the spotlight has missed the collective and cumulative impact of generations of Black women,” said Ed Gaskin, executive director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets. “When the spotlight has been on these leaders, it hasn’t always been the best light possible, and we hope to change that narrative. The Black Women Lead project aims to fill our knowledge gap by recognizing Black women leaders who made their marks on Boston from the 1700s through the present day.”

The nomination process was extensive and resulted in 600 nominations. The selection criteria for the inaugural slate of Black women leaders was quite extensive — over a page long. Students from the Mother Caroline Academy were among the selection committee. The process led to a list of leaders that includes women who made history by being the first to do something, and those who had something named after them from scholarships to streets to buildings. Others were leaders having received Grammys, Emmys and Hall of Fame nominations. Leadership was defined broadly to include extraordinary role models — like a woman who had 50 foster children, or a woman who worked as a foster grandmother for 25 years and retired at age 95 — as well as others who have made unique contributions to the community.

Banners for each of the 212 Black women leaders included designs from local artist Kamali Thornell and Baltimore-based Brianna Young. Each portrait is signed by the artist as an original piece of art, similar to prints.

“I see this exhibit as being reminiscent of ‘The Gates’ in Central Park, created by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. As an artist, this is my Christo,” said Gaskin. “It provides placemaking for Grove Hall, promotes Black art, honors Black women and seniors, and inspires us all. It is in memory of my grandmother Maxine Moss and great aunt Anna Moss who graduated from college during the time of the depression — Black women leaders in their day.”

The project hopes to repeat this process annually, adding new voices and new stories to the still unfolding story that is Boston.

About Greater Grove Hall Main Streets

Greater Grove Hall Main Streets (GGHMS) focuses on improving the economic vitality of the Grove Hall district, community development and urban planning for the betterment of businesses and residents. GGHMS is committed to promoting a diverse business district while maintaining our neighborhood’s historical character. The organization encourages innovative and creative techniques for fostering economic development that enriches the lives of business owners, employees and residents of our community. For more information, visit http://www.greatergrovehall.org.

Black Women Lead Media Coverage

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Archive

Please check back soon for news about our archive in development with the Reckonings Project.

Directory

The 212 Black Women Leaders selected for 2023:

  • 1 Adelaide M. Cromwell, Ph.D
  • 2 Adrienne R. Benton
  • 3 Adrienne Smith
  • 4 Alfreda Harris
  • 5 Alice A. Casneau
  • 6 Andrea Bradford
  • 7 Andrea Campbell, JD
  • 8 Andrea Herbert Major
  • 9 Andrea J. Cabral, JD
  • 10 Andrea L. Taylor
  • 11 Angela Paige Cook, PH.D
  • 12 Ann Hobson Pilot
  • 13 Anna Bobbit Gardner
  • 14 Anna Faith Jones
  • 15 Anna Mae Cole
  • 16 Audrea F. Jones Dunham, PH.D
  • 17 Barbara Clark Elam
  • 18 Barbara Gomes Beach
  • 19 Barbara Smith
  • 20 Belinda Sutton
  • 21 Benaree P. Wiley
  • 22 Berthé M. Gaines
  • 23 Betty Jane Lesueur Wornum
  • 24 Beulah Providence
  • 25 Beulah S. Hester
  • 26 Beverley Johnson
  • 27 Bishop Barbara C. Harris
  • 28 Bishop Nellie Yarborough
  • 29 Blanche E. Braxton
  • 30 Carmen Fields
  • 31 Carol Fulp
  • 32 Carole Copeland Thomas
  • 33 Carolyn Wilkins
  • 34 Charlene Carroll
  • 35 Charlotte Forten Grimké
  • 36 Charlotte Matthews-Nelson
  • 37 Ché Madyun
  • 38 Chloe Spear
  • 39 Chrystal Kornegay
  • 40 Clementina “Tina” Chéry
  • 41 Cleora Carter Francis
  • 42 Colette Phillips
  • 43 Cora Reid McKerrow
  • 44 Danielle Susan Allen, PH.D
  • 45 DeAma Battle
  • 46 Deborah C. Jackson
  • 47 Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD
  • 48 Det. Dorothy E. Harrison
  • 49 Dianne “Lady Di” Walker
  • 50 Doris Bland
  • 51 Dorothy Haskins
  • 52 Dorothy West
  • 53 E. Alice Taylor
  • 54 Edna C. Robinson Brown, DDM
  • 55 Edna J. Swan
  • 56 Edna V. Bynoe
  • 57 Ekua Holmes
  • 58 Elaine Weddington Steward
  • 59 Eliza Ann Gardner
  • 60 Elizabeth “Beth” Williams
  • 61 Elizabeth “Mum Bett” Freeman
  • 62 Elizabeth Blakeley
  • 63 Elizabeth Cook Riley
  • 64 Ella Little-Collins
  • 65 Ellen Banks
  • 66 Ellen Swepson Jackson
  • 67 Elma Lewis
  • 68 Elta Garrett
  • 69 Elva Lee C. Abdal-Khallaq
  • 70 Estella Lee Crosby
  • 71 Estelle Ancrum Forster
  • 72 Eva Mitchell
  • 73 Evelynn M. Hammonds, Ph.D
  • 74 Fannie Barrier Williams
  • 75 Fern L. Cunningham-Terry
  • 76 Florence “Florrie” LeSueur
  • 77 Florence B. Price
  • 78 Florence Hagins
  • 79 Florida Ruffin Ridley
  • 80 Frances Carolyn Harris
  • 81 Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
  • 82 Frances J. Bonner, M.D.
  • 83 Frederica M. Williams
  • 84 Gail Snowden
  • 85 Georgette Watson
  • 86 Geraldine Pindell Trotter
  • 87 Gladys A. Moore Perdue
  • 88 Gladys Holmes
  • 89 Glendora Mcilwain Putnam, JD
  • 90 Gloria Smith
  • 91 Gwendolyn “Gwen” Ifill
  • 92 Harriet Bell Hayden
  • 93 Harriet Jacobs
  • 94 Isabella Holmes
  • 95 Isaura Mendes
  • 96 Jackie Jenkins-Scott
  • 97 Jane Clark Putnam
  • 98 Jane Johnson
  • 99 Jacqui Jones Hoard
  • 100 Jean McGuire
  • 101 Jessie G. Garnett, DDM
  • 102 Joan Wallace-Benjamin, Ph.D
  • 103 Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin
  • 104 Joyce Ferriabough Bolling
  • 105 Juanita Brooks Wade
  • 106 Judge Barbara A. Dortch-Okara
  • 107 Judge Geraldine S. Hines
  • 108 Judge Joyce London Alexander
  • 109 Judge Judith Nelson Dilday
  • 110 Judge Kimberly S. Budd
  • 111 JudyAnn Bigby, MD
  • 112 Karen Holmes Ward
  • 113 Karen Miller
  • 114 Karilyn Crockett, Ph.D
  • 115 Katherine “Kittie” Knox
  • 116 Kem Danner
  • 117 Lani Guinier, JD
  • 118 Laura Younger
  • 119 Leah Randolph
  • 120 Letitia Campfield
  • 121 Lilla G. Frederick
  • 122 Lillian A. Lewis
  • 123 Lisa Simmons
  • 124 L'Merchie Frazier
  • 125 Louise Wells Corbin
  • 126 Lucy Miller Mitchell
  • 127 Lucy Terry Prince
  • 128 Lula “Mama” Christopher
  • 129 Madam Mary L. Johnson
  • 130 Mallika Marshall, MD
  • 131 Mamie Nell “Mimi” Jones
  • 132 Margaret A. Burnham, LL.B
  • 133 Margaret Moseley
  • 134 Maria Louise Baldwin
  • 135 Maria W. Stewart
  • 136 Marian L. Heard
  • 137 Marilyn Anderson Chase
  • 138 Marita Rivero
  • 139 Mary Crutchfield Thompson, DDM
  • 140 Mary Edmonia Lewis
  • 141 Mary Eliza Mahoney
  • 142 Mary Evans Wilson
  • 143 Mattie B. Powell
  • 144 Mattie Lee Washington
  • 145 Mattie May Adams
  • 146 Maud Cuney Hare
  • 147 Maud Trotter Steward
  • 148 Maude Hurd
  • 148 Mayor Kim Janey
  • 150 Melnea A. Cass
  • 151 Mildred C. Hailey
  • 152 Mildred Davenport
  • 153 Mildred Fay Jefferson, MD
  • 154 Miriam Manning
  • 155 Mukiya Baker-Gomez
  • 156 Muriel S. Snowden
  • 157 Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD
  • 158 Nadine Fortune Wright
  • 159 Nancy Gardner Prince
  • 160 Nellie Brown Mitchell
  • 161 Nora L. Baston
  • 162 Olive Lee Benson
  • 163 Patricia Ann Raynor
  • 164 Paula A. Johnson, MD
  • 165 Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins
  • 166 Peggy Olivia Brown, ED.D
  • 167 Phillis Wheatley
  • 168 Priscilla H. Douglas, Ed.D
  • 169 Rachael S. Rollins, JD.
  • 170 Rachel M. Washington
  • 171 Rebecca Lee Crumpler, MD
  • 172 Rebecca Parker Clarke
  • 173 Rep. Ayanna Pressley
  • 174 Rep. Charlotte Golar Richie
  • 175 Rep. Doris Bunte
  • 176 Rep. Gloria L. Fox
  • 177 Rep. Mary H. Goode
  • 178 Rep. Saundra Graham
  • 179 Rep. Shirley Owens-Hicks
  • 180 Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, MD
  • 181 Rev. Liz Walker
  • 182 Rubina Ann Guscott
  • 183 Ruth E. Hamilton
  • 184 Ruth Edmonds Hill
  • 185 Ruth M. Batson
  • 186 Sandra B. Henriquez
  • 187 Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Ed.D
  • 188 Sarah Parker Remond
  • 189 Sarah Sella Martin
  • 190 Ellen Smith Craft
  • 191 Sarah-Ann Shaw
  • 192 Savina J. Martin
  • 193 Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, JD
  • 194 Shaumba-Yandje Dibinga
  • 195 Shirley Carrington
  • 196 Shirley Shillingford
  • 197 Sister Nellie S. Harris
  • 198 Sister Virginia Morrison
  • 199 Susan Paul
  • 200 Susie King Taylor
  • 201 Teri Williams
  • 202 Terri Lyne Carrington
  • 203 Thea L. James, MD
  • 204 Thelma D. Burns
  • 205 Tommiejo “Ma” Dixon
  • 206 Tulaine Marshal Montgomery
  • 207 Valerie Mosley
  • 208 Valerie Shelley
  • 209 Vivian Male
  • 210 Wilhelmina M. Crosson
  • 211 Zakiya Alake
  • 212 Zipporah Potter Atkins

Contact Us

320B Blue Hill Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02121
ewgaskin@gmail.com

Ask for Ed @ (617) 460-2326

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