Website: https://www.borail.org/explore-learn/for-teachers-students/legacy-of-the-underground-railroad/

On September 26th, The B&O Railroad Museum will unveil the "Legacy of the Underground Railroad" a Student Companion Website to the Museum’s Underground Railroad Exhibit:  Freedom Seekers on the B&O. This website, located at is a dynamic and interactive website that introduces students to original source material about the Underground Railroad using performing arts.  Specifically, each section of the website will be introduced to students and teachers with segments of an original song "Network to Freedom" written and composed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and their artist in residence, Wordsmith.  Wordsmith will perform his original song, “Network to Freedom”, accompanied by select musicians from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on September 26th at 1:00pm at the B&O Railroad Museum in a free one-hour community concert for students, teachers, and the general public. 

“This website is the next phase of our Underground Railroad exhibit that can be used by teachers who visit the exhibit with their students as pre-and-post field trip curriculum as well as by teachers and students from around the world who may not have the chance to visit our historic site”, said Kris Hoellen, Executive Director of the B&O Railroad Museum. “We remain grateful to Wordsmith for writing a song that explains the Underground Railroad to students using a different medium – performing arts – and to connecting the relevancy of the Underground Railroad to students today.”

“My inspiration for the song was two-fold. With Baltimore being the home of American Railroading in the United States, I wanted to musically tell the world about our rich history, intimate real life stories of free slaves passing through the B&O, the importance of the underground railroad and an historical account of the railroads significance during the Civil War,” said Wordsmith.

At the heart of this innovative website is the original song "Network to Freedom" by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and their artist in residence, Wordsmith, which serves as a narrative guide through three distinct "movements" or sections of the site. Each movement provides a deep dive into aspects of the B&O Railroad’s role in Freedom Seekers’ travel along the Underground Railroad. Students will interact with the recorded performance, primary source documents, historic maps, and thought-provoking activities that illuminate the stories of courage, resilience, and hope that defined this critical period in American history.

Key Features of the Website:

• Movement 1: Birthplace of American Railroading – This section introduces students to the origins of the B&O Railroad and its significant role in American history. Through interactive tasks, students will explore the railroad's early days and its impact on the nation's development.
• Movement 2: Railroad of Hope – Focusing on the Underground Railroad, this movement examines how the B&O Railroad became a vital part of the network that helped enslaved individuals achieve their freedom. Students will uncover the hidden meanings in railroad terms, follow the paths of freedom seekers, and engage with historical accounts of daring ventures.
• Movement 3: Roadmap to the Future – Students will explore the continuing legacy of the railroad into the 20th century, including the Great Migration and the role of African Americans in shaping the nation’s railroads. This section also highlights the struggles and triumphs of Black railroad workers, offering a comprehensive view of their contributions to American society.

Teacher Resources and Classroom Integration:

The website provides valuable resources for educators for grades 5 through 8, including lesson plans aligned with Maryland State Education Standards. Teachers are encouraged to incorporate these materials into their curriculum to enhance students' understanding of this pivotal era in American history.

Acknowledgments:

This project was made possible through the support of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Wordsmith. It also received a grant from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

Visit the Website:

The "Legacy of the Underground Railroad" Student Companion Website is accessible at borail.info/students and is optimized for use on desktop computers for an immersive experience. Whether used in the classroom or at home, this resource offers a unique and engaging way for students to connect with history.

About the B&O Railroad Museum:

Located in Baltimore, MD, the B&O Railroad Museum is recognized as the birthplace of American railroading. It preserves and interprets the legacy of the railroad, highlighting its impact on the growth and development of the United States.

For more information, please visit www.borail.org

Concerts for the Human Family, a new artistic collaboration led by The Episcopal Church and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry that explores “the powerful intersection between art, justice and faith,” will launch May 22 with a free digital broadcast filmed at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral.

The inaugural concert, which pairs pianist, composer and musical director Kory Caudill of Nashville, Tenn., and Baltimore-based hip-hop artist Wordsmith, will provide an uplifting journey through the human experience of love, grief, loss and hope – a musical commentary on social reckoning in the United States and a pandemic that has touched every corner of the world. The concert was filmed with special care to follow all safety guidelines outlined by the CDC.

Amplifying the work of local musicians in multiple cities, Concerts for the Human Family will feature original music and unique voices that span genres and cultures. Events are designed for audiences of all backgrounds and will take place in traditional concert venues, as well as landmark spaces across the U.S. affiliated with The Episcopal Church. The May event also incorporates From Many, One, an Episcopal project encouraging storytelling and conversations across difference.

“Concerts for the Human Family takes us to the powerful intersection of art, justice, and faith,” said the Rev. Stephanie Spellers, canon for evangelism, reconciliation, and care of creation in The Episcopal Church. “We know music is a catalyst for movements, so we began dreaming: What if diverse groups of artists made conscious music together in our holy spaces? How would that inspire us to pursue beloved community?”

In early 2019, a team of professional musicians, artists, creatives, mainstream music industry executives and church leaders gathered to begin dreaming about what such an initiative might look like. Drawing on The Episcopal Church’s vision for Becoming Beloved Community, which advances racial reconciliation and healing in and beyond the church, Caudill and his team began to shape a musical journey intended to stir listeners.

In addition to concerts, the music will be made available through albums featuring guest artists, musicians and producers. Each recording shares sacred stories of human experience from multiple perspectives, many of which originated from powerful conversations around reconciliation.

“This music is about the creation process as much as it is about finished albums or live events,” Caudill shared. “It’s about the conversations we have with one another, the trips we make to each other’s hometowns to learn about who we’re creating with, and the in-depth research into the topics we write about.”

Caudill continued, “We’re getting to know some incredible musicians who have important stories to tell. This project allows these folks’ art to reach large audiences without having to overcome typical hurdles associated with the music industry. Our only guideline is that we don’t record anything unless it has meaning.”

While spiritual in nature, the recordings and concerts are designed to resonate with audiences across faith traditions and those who claim no religious affiliation. Among the first musical releases due out in May 2021 is a collaboration between Caudill and Wordsmith. Topics covered in the album include Wordsmith’s personal experiences with racial profiling, the 2005 killing of British teen Anthony Walker, and Caudill’s prayers for a forgotten Appalachia.

My Brilliance Shines Theater Troupe was created in 2023 by award winning artist Wordsmith and his non-profit Rise with a Purpose. The troupe features twelve students from three different Baltimore City public schools.

Over the past two years, Wordsmith and "My Brilliance Shines Theater Troupe" wrote and directed two plays, "The Purple Tape" and "Black Women Genius Monologues." Performances took place at Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Enoch Pratt Library Penn North, The Motor House and New Song Academy.

THE PURPLE TAPE

Imagine a modern day take on the hit musical Hamilton mixed with the TV series The Get Down, but set in Baltimore in the 90s and incorporating classic 90s rap hits from Wu-Tang, The
Notorious B.I.G., 2PAC and LL Cool J. The students of New Song Academy will rap their way through a summer day as they go on a hunt for a rare copy of the famous Raekwon album. Only
10,000 cassettes were printed guaranteeing it would only fall into the hands of the most devoted Raekwon/Wu-Tang fans. The search for the purple tape ends up being a lesson in Hip Hop History as the students realize the culture of Hip Hop is a way of living.

BLACK WOMEN GENIUS

8 monologues based on the Black Woman Genius exhibit currently on display at Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Students will pay homage and tell the life stories of contemporary Black women fiber artists from the Chesapeake area, while embodying each artists mannerisms, artistic look and values.

WWE - Bianca Belair Entrance Theme Song "We Do It Better" 

AMC - Preacher: Season 4, Ep. 2 "Talking to the Most High"

Netflix - Russian Doll: Season 1, Ep. 2 "Get What You Love"

Netflix - The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 3, Ep. 6 "Never Be the Same"

France TV - Skam France: Season 2, Ep. 1 "Happy Hour the Universal Blackout"

NBA 2K21 Next Gen Soundtrack/Game "Fill the Space" and "Energy" 

ESPN - Sportscenter in Review "Eye for the Spotlight"

ESPN - College Football Plays of the Week "Eye for the Spotlight" 

Kawasaki - Z800 Commercial "As the Art Fades Away"

NFL Network - Top 100 Players of 2015 "On My Job"

Red Bull - BC One World Dance Finals "On My Job"

3 Seconds Behind the Wheel - PSA "Traffic Jammin"

Hollidaysburg - Movie "Happy Hour the Universal Black Out"

Nintendo - Mad World "Death & Honor"

Roadtrip Nation - Ready to Rise Documentary "Living Life Check to Check" and "Gems of Wisdom"

WORDSMITH ALBUMS

Bittersweet (2021) - Hip Hop/Pop/ House

Progressions (2021) - Vocal Jazz

Baltimore Revisited (2020) - Hip Hop/Jazz/Baltimore Club

Perspective Jukebox (2017) - Hip Hop/Pop - Winner Best Rap/Hip Hop Album 16th Independent Music Awards

Apt. 507 (2015) - Hip Hop/Jazz

The Blue Collar Recital (2013) - Hip Hop

King Noah (2013) - Hip Hop

Vintage Experience (2010) - Hip Hop

Wordsmith's non profit, Rise With A Purpose, Inc., is pleased to present “MOVE FOR HUNGER COMMUNITY LUNCHLINE” Initiative.

“Move for Hunger Community Lunch line" is an initiative that will provide a supplemental food program for the Baltimore City homeless population. For the past three years we have been doing weekly pop ups at Penn North located by Enoch Pratt Library and Arch Social Club. We distribute homemade soup, meats, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, cakes, hot chocolate, fruit, snacks, music and our Baltimore Blessing Bags (Toiletry items, socks and water) and more to the homeless community in west Baltimore City.

Our goal is to turn our pop ups into a community lunch line. A network of volunteers is being developed to produce cultural dishes representing their heritage, so our displaced population can enjoy foods naturally fit for restaurants or foreign landscapes. Rise with a Purpose, Inc. wants to provide cultural acceptance through food while delivering those in need home cooking from around the world.

The lunch line is being held each Friday from 1pm-2:30pm. Public trash cans/dumpsters are accessible for clean-up and social distancing can be executed.

We will require all attendees to position 6 feet from food pans and everyone will be served by Rise with a Purpose, Inc. volunteers adhering to CDC guidelines for COVID-19 safety. Signage will be largely marked above each food pan describing the dish so most attendees will be able to read it from 6 feet. We welcome attendees to find a place to sit, eat and listen to music from our Rise with a Purpose playlist.

Half of the residents in Baltimore City live below the poverty line while a third of the kids in the city live-in low-income households. Rise with a Purpose, Inc. will utilize partnerships with Project Plase and People Encouraging People to circulate the community lunch line flyers and online newsletters, while person to person outreach in poverty stricken areas of Baltimore City will remain our focus leading up to a monthly community lunch line. Further social media outreach will come in the form of posting the event on RisewithaPurpose.com and live streaming via Facebook.com/RisewithaPurpose

As we progress, Rise with a Purpose, Inc. ultimate goal is to provide entertainment, healthcare connections, PPE and work opportunities for the homeless. The community lunch line would morph into a yearly Community Festival embodying the aforementioned. Whether displaced or a squeegee kid it’s common to see half-built drum kits and vocalist on random blocks playing music throughout the day. Why not give these kids a platform to showcase their talent each year while enjoying good food from a community that cherishes them?