AMHERST — Ancestral Bridges’ first physical location at 29A Cottage St. will serve as a new cultural anchor for Amherst and the Connecticut River Valley, and a place where archives come alive through community engagement with art, culture and history, according to founder Anika Lopes.
Through what Lopes describes as a trailblazing foundation and with innovative partnerships, Ancestral Bridges is transforming the preservation and sharing of the rich history and contributions of Black and Afro-Indigenous families in Amherst and beyond. For the first time in the town’s history, a dedicated space is being created by their descendants to publicly recognize these roots and legacies.
“This is more than a building,” Lopes says. “It is a living archive that has existed before the town of Amherst was established. Our lineage and heritage have consistently been erased, disconnected, obscured and appropriated. Here, we present an authentic narrative of the stories our ancestors have passed down through generations.”
“Decades of meticulous research have gifted us with a priceless treasure,” Lopes added. “Now, these stories are being preserved and activated — new ones are created every day through engagement, education and connection. I am grateful for this space and for this moment.”
The organization is inviting the community to a soft opening at the site on Wednesday, May 7, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with brief remarks at 5 p.m. The soft opening is part of a semester-long collaboration with Lisa Brooks, a professor at Amherst College, and students enrolled in her American Literature in Conversation course, which is supported by the college’s Serving the Greater Good initiative and the Center for Community Engagement.
In addition to readings, discussions, and exploration focused on curiosity and connection to place, students worked with community elders throughout the spring semester to collect oral histories and curate select exhibits for the new space, resulting in a deeply collaborative and intergenerational relationship that connects the past with the present, while creating new pathways for the future.
Edythe Harris, the daughter of Amherst’s internationally acclaimed jazz musician Gilbert “Gil” Roberts, said she is excited for what people will experience.
“Visitors will be able to take a historical journey. They will see, hear, and learn about the Black and Indigenous people and their families who have been and continue to be part of the fabric of the town of Amherst and the surrounding community,” said Harris, who will turn 98 in June. “Hopefully, their bridges will continue to grow and connect as the years come and go. And lastly, many, many thanks go to Amherst College and their group of students who, as part of their coursework, were an integral part of this sneak peek.”
“This has been a labor of love,” said Debora Bridges, curator of the Civil War Tablet and Photograph Exhibit, located in the Bangs Community Center, and an elder at Ancestral Bridges. “This space is dedicated to the memory of my father, Dudley J. Bridges Sr., and cousin, Daniel B. Harris, who were unwavering in their commitment to preserve our history for future generations. This is a step forward for our community, and I am so thankful for everyone who helped make it a reality.”
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
