Bladensburg, MD – On Oct. 31, theater‑maker and arts educator ChelseaDee Harrison launched the first of a three‑part Evergreen Cemetery Legacy Project. Partnering with Joe’s Movement Emporium and its GreenWorks environmental program, the event invited residents to tend the historic grounds, clear invasive plants, and honor the ancestors buried there.
Art, History and Land Stewardship
Harrison, whose work includes the Free Black Chesapeake project and Wild Seed Productions, said the cemetery’s landscape “holds deep stories” that inspire her to preserve and share local heritage. “The land functions as a time capsule, an archive of generations,” she told The Informer.
Volunteers enjoyed sweet treats and hot apple cider while participating in a remembrance activity table that encouraged reflection through art. The effort also focused on practical conservation: removing vines, trimming overgrowth obscuring headstones, and managing invasive species that threaten the site’s integrity.
Community Leaders Support the Initiative
Bladensburg Mayor Takisha James praised the project, noting it offers a chance for residents to “connect with the site, feel the spirit of this place, and honor the enslaved folks laid to rest here.” She added that the town will update its website with new historical information gathered through the project, making Evergreen Cemetery’s story accessible statewide.
Joe’s Movement Emporium executive director Brooke Kidd highlighted the cultural importance of preserving gathering spaces. “Arts organizations have an important role in our community—to preserve and support places where we can celebrate culture,” she said.
GreenWorks Extends Conservation Efforts
Operations director Hullam Thiong explained that GreenWorks volunteers not only tend the cemetery but also run a free tree‑planting program, clean local waterways, and maintain trash traps for the Anacostia River. Funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, and the Town of Bladensburg supports these activities.
Thiong emphasized that removing invasive vines “kills off the legacy” of the historic site, while careful clearing helps reveal unmarked graves of enslaved individuals. Ongoing research aims to identify those buried without markers, ensuring their stories are recorded for future generations.
Looking Ahead
The Legacy Project will continue with two more events in February and March 2027. Harrison urges community members to join, help locate lost graves, and keep the land sacred for coming generations. “When our ancestors gave their blood, sweat, and tears to keep this place going, we honor them by preserving the land for the next generations,” she said.
Residents interested in volunteering or learning more can contact Joe’s Movement Emporium or visit the Town of Bladensburg’s website for updates on the Evergreen Cemetery Legacy Project.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
