Forum on Racial Understanding Hosted by the Dennis Farm to Explore How Access to Diverse Stories Transforms and Connects Us, Feb. 10

Event Marks the Seventh Annual Lonaé A. Moore Forum

With a shared commitment to presenting a more inclusive—and thus a more accurate—telling of history, the Museum of the American Revolution and the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust (DFCLT) will host, “It Begins with Each of Us: Fostering Racial Understanding,” a candid conversation about race at the Museum on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, from 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Panelists include Chelsea Frank, Director of Library Services at Rosemont College, and M. Denise Dennis, Chairwoman and CEO of the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust. The conversation will be moderated by Adrienne G. Whaley, Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Museum of the American Revolution, who will also join the conversation.

The theme of this year's forum is “Building Bridges By Sharing Our Stories" and will explore how having access to an unlimited range of perspectives and lived experiences expands our understanding of, and compassion for, our communities and each other. Admission is free, but registration is required.

The event marks the seventh annual Lonaé A. Moore Forum and is named in honor of Lonaé A. Moore (1997-2018), an eighth-generation direct descendant of the Dennis family and Delaware State University student who passed away in 2018. The forum takes place as part of the Museum’s Black History Month celebration in February.

“The Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust and the Museum of the American Revolution are committed to upholding the truths that are a basic tenet of American democracy—that all men and women are created equal with the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” said Denise Dennis, Chairwoman and CEO of the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust. “Racism, which is based on ignorance and the absence of truth, undermines democracy by dividing us. Through this Forum, we will share knowledge and the light of truth, which are powerful tools in the struggle to overcome racism and build unity."

The forum is free to attend, but registration is required. To register, please email [email protected] or click here. Admission to the Museum’s galleries is included with event registration.

About Chelsea Frank
Chelsea Frank is the Executive Director of Library Services at the Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library within the vibrant Rosemont College community. With a wealth of experience in archives and libraries across diverse sectors, including higher education, museums, and non-profit organizations, Chelsea has finely honed her skills in curating and managing knowledge resources. Before joining Rosemont, Chelsea served as the University Archivist and Electronic Resources Librarian at Cabrini University. Her expertise has also left an indelible mark on prestigious institutions such as The NYSPCC in New York City and The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

About Denise Dennis
M. Denise Dennis, a seventh-generation Pennsylvanian, is Founding President and CEO of the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust (DFCLT). More than two-hundred years old, the 153-acre Dennis Farm is located in Susquehanna County, PA where her ancestors, documented free African Americans who came to the region from Connecticut in 1793, purchased land and settled. Veterans of the American Revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War are interred in the family cemetery on the Farm. Under Ms. Dennis’ leadership, the Farm has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, received a Chairman’s Award from the National Endowment for the Humanities, has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, was featured in the preview exhibition of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, and most recently was honored to receive America250PA’s first Semiquincentennial Bell, in anticipation of the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. The DFCLT preserves the grounds and shares the history of the Dennis Farm as a cultural resource, open to the public, and through educational partnerships and programs. 

Denise is also the author of four books including, Bristol Budd Sampson: Patriot of the American Revolution, Black History for Beginners, and A Century of Greatness: Outstanding African American Philadelphians of the Twentieth Century. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications and she has been a guest speaker at various institutions including the Museum of the American Revolution, Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, Pennsylvania Historical Society, Pennsylvania Farm Show, the 232nd Anniversary Commemorative of the Battle of Wyoming (PA), colleges and universities. Ms. Dennis is an alumna of Swarthmore College.

About Adrienne G. Whaley
Adrienne G. Whaley is an educator and history-lover who currently serves as Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Museum of the American Revolution. Adrienne earned her Bachelor's degree in African American Studies from Harvard University and her Master's in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked in both art and history museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum, and loves the potential for objects, artifacts, and primary source documents to enrich student learning experiences. She carries her love of history and for uncovering the stories of common people into her spare time as an avid genealogist researching her own family history and as former Programming Chair and President of Philadelphia's African American Genealogy Group. As both a museum educator and as a genealogist, she has presented on television and in workshops and conferences both locally and nationally.

About The Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust
The Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, was created to preserve a rare-and beautiful-historic and cultural resource in the Endless Mountains of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. The 153-acre farm was founded by the Dennis family’s ancestors, free African Americans who came to Pennsylvania from Connecticut in 1793 and purchased land and has remained in the stewardship of the same family since then. The purpose of the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust is to continue to develop the Dennis Farm into an education and cultural site for scholars, researchers, educators, cultural heritage tourists, school groups and others interested in. this extraordinary history.

About Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.