Community Partner Committee

The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ) and the John Dickinson Plantation (JDP) are working together to ensure that Delaware’s history is told fully, accurately, and inclusively. As part of the national Addressing the Silences initiative, this partnership confronts historical omissions by centering the lived experiences of enslaved, free, and indentured Black individuals whose stories have too often been overlooked.

This work is guided by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC)—a global network of museums, historic sites, and memory initiatives that connect past struggles for justice to contemporary human rights issues. ICSC supports institutions in engaging communities, confronting difficult histories, and promoting dialogue for social change. SDARJ and JDP are active contributors to this national initiative and are recognized within the Addressing the Silences Toolkit as a community partnership model, reflecting our role in helping to shape and inform this work. The partnership draws directly from the coalition’s published resource, the Addressing the Silences Toolkit, which provides a practical framework for uncovering overlooked histories, building reciprocal relationships, and creating more inclusive public narratives. You can explore the toolkit here, or here.

Through this collaboration, we are building a more complete and human-centered understanding of the past—one that reflects truth, strengthens public knowledge, and advances equity through community engagement.

Our Mission

The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ) is dedicated to confronting systemic racism through education, advocacy, and community engagement across Southern Delaware.

Through our partnership with the John Dickinson Plantation, this mission extends into public history—ensuring that historical interpretation is accurate, inclusive, and reflective of the full experiences of those who lived, labored, and endured. This work advances racial justice by transforming how history is researched, interpreted, and shared with the public.

Shared Goals

Amplify Silenced Histories

We collaborate with JDP to ensure that the stories of enslaved, free, and indentured Black individuals are represented with accuracy, depth, and respect across exhibits, programs, and interpretive materials.

Build Reciprocal Community Relationships

Our partnership is grounded in dialogue, trust-building, and authentic engagement. Through community forums, school collaborations, and shared learning experiences, we create opportunities for meaningful participation and connection.

Support Institutional Change

We work alongside JDP to identify barriers within institutional practices and co-create solutions that support inclusive, community-informed decision-making. This reflects a commitment to shared accountability and sustained systems-level change.

Promote Inclusive Public Education

We support public programs, town halls, and storytelling initiatives that deepen understanding of the lived experiences of those connected to the plantation and the enduring impact of these histories today.

What We Do

Our work brings history to life through community-centered engagement and collaborative storytelling:

Community-Centered Public Events

We co-host forums and town halls to share progress, gather community input, and foster open dialogue that strengthens public understanding.

Inclusive Storytelling Projects

We develop audio narratives and interpretive materials grounded in archival research, oral histories, and community knowledge—ensuring a more complete and human-centered account of history.

Institutional Reflection & Change

We partner with JDP to examine existing practices and implement changes that support inclusive, community-driven interpretation aligned with the Addressing the Silences framework.

Join the Community Partner Committee

The SDARJ Community Partner Committee welcomes individuals who are passionate about racial justice, historical truth-telling, and community engagement.

As a member, you can:

• Help shape community-driven museum programs
• Support accurate and inclusive storytelling
• Participate in Town Halls, school visits, and collaborative projects
• Strengthen relationships between the community and cultural institutions
• Contribute to advancing racial equity and historical understanding in Delaware